Exact Purchase Cutoff Times for Buying Lottery Tickets in California

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As an avid California lottery player and gaming content writer, I get asked often about how late you can buy Mega Millions, Powerball and other lottery tickets here in California. So I wanted to provide a detailed guide with insider tips for lottery ticket purchase times in our state.

Clear Cutoff for Buying Tickets Before Drawings

You can buy California lottery tickets up until right before the drawings, but exact cutoff times vary depending on which lottery game you are playing:

  • Daily 3 and Daily 4: Tickets must be purchased by 7:00 PM on the night of the drawing
  • Mega Millions: Tickets must be purchased by 7:45 PM on the night of the drawing
  • Super Lotto Plus: Tickets must be purchased by 7:45 PM on the night of the drawing
  • Powerball: Tickets must be purchased by 7:00 PM on the night of the drawing
  • Fantasy 5: Tickets must be purchased by 7:30 PM on the night of the drawing

On non-drawing nights, lottery tickets can generally be purchased anywhere from 6:00 AM to midnight depending on the retailer‘s hours.

All California lottery tickets must be purchased in person at authorized retail locations – there are over 23,000 throughout the state so availability and convenience is typically not an issue. Below I share tips on when exactly I make my ticket purchases.

California Lottery Ticket Sales and Prize Payout Data

To provide some context around California lottery ticket sales and potential winnings, in the 2021 fiscal year:

  • Over $8 billion in lottery tickets were sold
  • 68 cents of every dollar spent went to prizes or contributions to public schools
  • Over $1.8 billion went to K-12 public education

Some fast facts on record California lottery prizes:

  • Largest SuperLotto Plus Jackpot: $193 million
  • Largest MEGA Millions Jackpot: $543 million
  • Largest Powerball Jackpot: $590.5 million

So while the odds of winning the jackpot aren‘t great (around 1 in 42 million for SuperLotto Plus), the potential payout is massive.

When Do I Buy Tickets: Tuesday & Friday Nights

As someone whose played the lottery here for over 10 years now through hundreds of drawings, my personal strategy is:

  • Focus play around the twice weekly MegaMillions drawings on Tuesday and Friday nights
  • Purchase tickets early in morning day of drawing to avoid lines
  • Get tickets before 2 pm latest to allow time to double check numbers

I tend to avoid playing on Saturdays when queues can get long leading up to the 7:45 pm Powerball cutoff.

And even when jackpots roll over I don‘t necessarily play every drawing. I carefully consider the odds and only joinPowerball when the jackpot gets over $250 million.

Tips to Improve Your Odds

The odds of winning any lottery jackpots are infinitesimally small, of course. But there are few tactics you can use to improve your chances:

  • Stick with easy pick numbers rather than personally choosing
  • Buy multiple tickets for the same drawing
  • Pool money with other players to purchase more tickets
  • Consistently play 2-4 times per month

Combining some of these approaches over an extended period of time can help increase your odds.

Be Prepared Leading up to Cutoff

While you have until 7:45 pm on drawing nights, I recommend buying your tickets earlier in the day. This prevents running into any issues that could make you miss purchasing tickets in time for that drawing.

And be sure to register the ticket after purchase to secure it just in case it gets lost or damaged later on.

So there you have it – a complete overview of lottery ticket purchase times in California. Let me know if any other questions come up! As a passionate player and guide in this space, I‘m always happy to share my insights and experiences around our state‘s lottery games to help others win big!

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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