The anticipation is mounting as the next Powerball drawing for an astounding $1.2 billion approaches, scheduled for Wednesday night at 10:59 p.m. ET. If you’re feeling lucky and want to try your luck at this colossal jackpot, you’ll need to buy a ticket. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the ticket purchase cutoff times, as they vary by state.
The Powerball Jackpot’s Journey to $1.2 Billion
The Powerball jackpot recently swelled to an incredible $1.2 billion after no lucky winner emerged from Monday night’s drawing. The winning numbers for that draw were 12, 26, 27, 43, 47, with the Powerball number being 5.
This Wednesday’s drawing has the potential to make someone the winner of the seventh largest Powerball jackpot in the game’s history. Just a few months ago, a ticket sold in Florida yielded a record-breaking win, securing the second-largest jackpot in history, a staggering $1.6 billion Mega Millions prize. The largest-ever Powerball jackpot win was a ticket sold in California in November 2022, which netted the lucky recipient a jaw-dropping $2.04 billion.
Choose Your Winnings
If a winner is declared on Wednesday, they’ll face the choice between two payout options. The first option is the full $1.2 billion jackpot, which is paid out in annual installments over 30 years. Alternatively, winners can opt for the cash option, valued at approximately $551 million.
To participate in Powerball, players must purchase a ticket and select five numbers from 1 to 69, in addition to choosing a sixth number known as the Powerball, from 1 to 26. To claim the jackpot, all six numbers must match those drawn. Prizes decrease in value as fewer numbers are matched.
Deadlines by State
The Powerball drawing occurs at 10:59 p.m. ET, but the cutoff time to buy tickets varies across states. Here’s a breakdown of the cutoff times for states in different time zones:
Eastern Time Cutoffs:
- Connecticut: 10 p.m.
- Delaware: 9:45 p.m.
- Florida: 10 p.m.
- Georgia: 10 p.m.
- Indiana: 9:59 p.m.
- Maine: 9:50 p.m.
- Maryland: 10 p.m.
- Massachusetts: 9:50 p.m.
- Michigan: 9:45 p.m.
- New Hampshire: 9:50 p.m.
- New Jersey: 9:59 p.m.
- New York: 10 p.m.
- North Carolina: 9:59 p.m.
- Ohio: 10 p.m.
- Pennsylvania: 9:59 p.m.
- Rhode Island: 9:50 p.m.
- South Carolina: 9:59 p.m.
- Vermont: 9:50 p.m.
- Virginia: 10 p.m.
- Washington, D.C.: 9:45 p.m.
- West Virginia: 9:59 p.m.
Central Time Cutoffs:
- Arkansas: 8:59 p.m.
- Illinois: 8:59 p.m.
- Iowa: 8:59 p.m.
- Kansas: 8:59 p.m.
- Kentucky: 9 p.m.
- Louisiana: 9 p.m.
- Minnesota: 9 p.m.
- Missouri: 8:59 p.m.
- Nebraska: 9 p.m.
- North Dakota: 8:58 p.m.
- Oklahoma: 8:59 p.m.
- South Dakota: 9 p.m.
- Tennessee: 9 p.m.
- Texas: 9 p.m.
- Wisconsin: 9 p.m.
Mountain Time Cutoffs:
- Colorado: 7:30 p.m.
- Idaho: 7:54 p.m.
- Montana: 8 p.m.
- New Mexico: 8 p.m.
- Wyoming: 7:59 p.m.
Pacific Time Cutoffs:
- California: 7 p.m.
- Oregon: 7 p.m.
- Washington: 6:45 p.m.
Arizona’s Unique Cutoff Time:
- Arizona operates on two time zones—Mountain Daylight Time and Mountain Savings Time. The cutoff for lottery ticket sales is at 6:59 p.m. from the second Sunday in March through the first Saturday in November. From the first Sunday in November through the second Saturday in March, ticket sale cutoffs are at 7:59 p.m.
As the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, more people are expected to try their luck, potentially leading to longer lines at ticket retailers. Keep this in mind if you plan to purchase tickets at the last minute.
Online Ticket Purchases
While only a few states permit online ticket purchases, you can buy tickets online in the following states: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In some states, courier services are available, allowing you to purchase tickets via a mobile app, where the service buys the ticket on your behalf.