Reference
Ticket cutoffs close earlier than you think.
Both drawings happen at ~11 PM Eastern, but every state stops selling tickets on its own schedule — some nearly two hours before the draw. Miss your state’s window and tonight’s ticket becomes next drawing’s ticket. Here’s a taste of how much it varies:
| State | Powerball cutoff | Mega Millions cutoff | Time zone & notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7:00 PM | 7:45 PM | PT California has an early cutoff time. Powerball closes at 7:00 PM, Mega Millions at 7:45 PM Pacific. |
| Texas | 9:00 PM | 9:45 PM | CT Texas has different cutoff times for Powerball and Mega Millions. |
| New York | 10:00 PM | 10:00 PM | ET New York allows ticket sales until 10:00 PM for both lotteries. |
Same drawing, same night — and a Californian’s window closes three hours of real time before a New Yorker’s. Ticket-sales cutoff times were compiled from official state lottery sources as of late 2024/early 2025. Cutoff times can change and may vary by retailer. Always verify current cutoff times with your state lottery before purchasing.
In the app
Every state. Every quirk. Counting down live.
We hand-compiled the sales cutoff for all 50 states plus D.C. from official lottery sources — including the oddities, like a state that ignores daylight saving time and one that sells until minutes before the draw. Lottery Dreams knows where you are and shows a live countdown to your state’s exact cutoff on every jackpot card — green when you have time, red when you don’t.