Powerball ticket sales generally stop one to two hours before the drawing, which occurs at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The exact cutoff time varies by state and time zone but typically ranges between around 6:45 p.m. Pacific Time to just before 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For example, in Eastern Time states, sales usually end around 9:45 to 10:00 p.m., while in the Central Time Zone, sales close around 8:59 p.m. CT. Some states like Maine have a specific cutoff time of 9:50 p.m. ET. It is important to check the rules for the particular state where the ticket is purchased since cutoff times vary by jurisdiction.
