The Latest Ticket Times for Arizona Lottery Games
As a gaming guru born and raised in Arizona, players often ask me “what’s the latest time I can buy lottery tickets here?” The last-minute cutoff times vary depending on which of our local lottery drawings you want to enter, so read on for all the key details!
Powerball – Tickets Stop at 7:00 PM
Powerball is surely the most popular and famous lottery game, with jackpots starting at $40 million and rolling over when there’s no winner. Tickets can be purchased in Arizona up until 7:00 PM on Powerball draw nights, which are every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
I always recommend buying your Powerball tickets by 6:45 PM at the latest, to ensure you make the cutoff time. Some retailers stop selling a bit earlier, and you don’t want to chance it! Each $2 Powerball play has odds of 1 in 292 million to hit the jackpot.
While the odds seem daunting, loyal Arizona players have hit some massive Powerball prizes over the years:
- $188 million – Litchfield Park in 2005
- $259 million – Fountain Hills in 2008
- $270 million – Goodyear in 2018
So we’ve definitely had some big local winners! Across all prize levels, the Arizona Lottery reports Powerball generates over $52 million in annual sales here.
Mega Millions – Cutoff Time is 7:45 PM
America’s other huge nationwide jackpot game, Mega Millions also has drawings three nights a week in Arizona. The cutoff time to buy Mega Millions tickets is 7:45 PM on Tuesdays and Fridays – a bit later than Powerball.
Since Mega Millions has odds of 1 in 302 million, buying as close to the 7:45 PM deadline as possible might just boost your chances! My preferred lottery retailer stops selling at 7:30 PM though, so I always aim to buy by 7:15 PM.
Some noteworthy Arizona Mega Millions winners include:
- $355 million – Flagstaff in 2020
- $188 million – Laveen in 2019
Mega Millions generates around $31 million in annual Arizona ticket sales. Decent stats for the newer kid on the block!
The Pick – Arizona’s Own Game
Our state also offers The Pick, an Arizona-only jackpot drawing on Thursdays and Sundays. The last time you can snag The Pick tickets is 7:30 PM on those nights.
I like to point out that The Pick has way better odds than Powerball or Mega Millions, at just 1 in 3 million. Plus tickets are $1 instead of $2. No massive jackpots here, but prizes like:
- $5.2 million – Phoenix in 2020
- $4 million – Anthem in 2021
So I do dabble in playing The Pick as well! Their annual sales figures are lower though, just over $10 million as it’s not a famous national brand.
Buying Tips to Remember
To quickly recap the key details:
| Game | Draw Nights | Ticket Stop Time |
|---|---|---|
| Powerball | Mon, Wed, Sat | 7:00 PM |
| Mega Millions | Tues, Fri | 7:45 PM |
| The Pick | Thurs, Sun | 7:30 PM |
I can’t stress enough that lines get longer as closing time approaches, so give yourself a nice cushion! Based on my years of Arizona lottery gaming experience, I recommend purchasing tickets at least 30 minutes prior to the listed cutoff times.
Retailers have full discretion on when exactly they stop selling tickets too. So aim early, especially if you have a favorite store location that could close up shop before final call!
Below are a few other Arizona lottery playing tips I’ve picked up along the way:
- Sales are cash-only at many shops. Bring debit/credit as backup!
- You can join the Lottery’s Players Club rewards program for perks
- Second chance drawings give you more ways to win
- Comparing jackpots and odds helps strategize best bets
Let me know if you have any other Arizona lottery questions! I’ve won my share of $20 and $100 prizes plus hit four numbers once for $200. Always fun to play when the jackpots get big!
