Short answer: Mega Millions ticket-cutoff times vary by state and drawing day, but most jurisdictions close ticket sales about 15 minutes to 1 hour before the 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time drawing on Tuesdays and Fridays. Some places (and certain online options) may have slightly different cutoffs, with a few states reporting cutoff times as late as around 9:50–10:00 p.m. local time or even earlier for online sales. Always check your specific state lottery’s cutoff for the drawing day to be sure. Key details to know
- Draw schedule: Mega Millions drawings occur twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, typically at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (varies by time zone for local listings) [web sources note the standard 11:00 p.m. ET time and drawing cadence].
- Cutoff window: Cutoff times are set by each state lottery and can range from roughly 15 minutes to about an hour before the drawing. Some state sites list precise times such as 9:50 p.m. ET or 9:59 p.m. local time on drawing days, with online purchases sometimes closing slightly earlier or later depending on the platform.
- Online vs in-store: Online ticketing cutoffs may differ from in-store sales and can be affected by platform-specific rules or carrier processing times. Check your state lottery's official guidance for online purchases.
How to confirm for your location
- Visit your state lottery’s Mega Millions page or the official Mega Millions website and look for “cut-off time for ticket sales” on drawing days (Tuesday and Friday). If you use a third-party app, verify their cutoff as well.
- If your state participates in Mega Millions but you’re unsure of the time, you can also call or visit a local lottery retailer and ask the clerk for the exact cutoff for the upcoming drawing.
Would you like me to look up the exact cutoff time for your specific state and the upcoming drawing? If you tell the state, the precise cutoff can be provided.
