The deadline to buy Powerball tickets varies by state but is typically between 1 to 2 hours before the drawing. The Powerball drawing happens at 10:59 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Ticket sales generally close:
- Around 9:45 to 10:00 p.m. ET in Eastern Time Zone states
- Around 8:59 p.m. CT in Central Time Zone states
- Much earlier in Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, sometimes as early as 6:45 p.m. PT
For example, in Pennsylvania, ticket sales end at 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, and in Florida, sales end at 10:00 p.m. ET for Powerball. Washington State cuts off sales at 6:45 p.m. PT. It is important to check the specific cutoff time for the state where the ticket is being purchased since it can vary by jurisdiction.
