Lottery ticket sales stop at different times depending on the game, the country/state, and whether you buy in-store or online.
General cutoff guidelines
Most lotteries stop same-day ticket sales a set time before the draw so entries can be processed. For big U.S. games, ticket sales typically close about 1–2 hours before the drawing time, though exact deadlines are defined by each state.
Examples for popular games
- Powerball tickets generally must be bought about 1–2 hours before the 10:59 p.m. Eastern drawing, with specific cutoffs (for example, around 9:45–10:00 p.m. Eastern in many Eastern states).
- Mega Millions usually has a cutoff roughly 1–2 hours before its late-evening drawings as well.
- In the UK National Lottery (Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball), sales for that night’s draw usually stop at about 7:30 p.m. on draw days.
In-store vs online
Retailers may stop earlier if the shop closes before the official cutoff, so local store hours can effectively move your deadline earlier. Online and app purchases often accept play most of the day but still apply the same draw cutoff; anything bought after the cutoff is entered into the next draw instead.
How to be sure
Because rules vary by location and change occasionally, the only precise answer for “how late” is on your local lottery’s official website or at a licensed retailer. The safest approach is to aim to buy at least a couple of hours before the draw or check the official site/app for the exact cutoff time for your game and state/country.