What time can you buy lottery tickets in Florida?
As a lottery enthusiast living in Florida, one of the most common questions I see from players is "what time can I buy lottery tickets?". In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know about purchasing lottery tickets in Florida.
The bottom line is that on draw nights (Wednesdays and Saturdays), you can buy Powerball tickets until 10:55 PM Eastern Time in Florida. MegaMillions sales end at 10:00 PM ET on Tuesdays and Fridays. Florida Lotto also stops selling tickets at 10:55 PM ET.
Keep reading for more details! I‘ll cover sales times for all Florida lottery games, best games to play, ticket purchasing tips, draw nights, massive jackpot winners, and expert strategy to boost your odds.
Florida Lottery Games and Purchase Times
The table below outlines sale stop times for major Florida lottery games:
| Game | Draw Nights | Sales End Time (ET) |
| Powerball | Mon, Wed, Sat | 10:55 PM |
| Mega Millions | Tues, Fri | 10:00 PM |
| Florida Lotto | Wed, Sat | 10:55 PM |
| Fantasy 5 | Daily | 10:45 PM |
As you can see, every major draw game has a cutoff between 10:00 PM and 10:55 PM ET on game nights.
Florida Lotto and Powerball share Wednesday and Saturday draw nights at 11:15 PM ET. Tickets can be purchased until 55 minutes before the scheduled drawings.
Fantasy 5 drawings are held daily at 11:00 PM ET, with ticket sales ending 45 minutes prior.
For massive multi-state games, the Lottery needs time to process ticket orders from all member states before drawings. So remember – get your Powerball, MegaMillions, and Florida Lotto tickets before 10:55 PM!
Now let‘s look at some of the best Florida lottery games to play when you‘re buying tickets…
Best Florida Lottery Games
Picking the right lottery game is key to boosting your chances. Here are my top 3 favorite Florida games:
500X The Cash
This $50 scratch-off holds the record for Florida‘s biggest ever scratch prize of $25 million. It also has the best odds among scratchers, at 1 in 4.5 overall. Match any of your numbers to the winning number and win. I love playing this exclusive Florida game with its huge payout potential!
Powerball
Sure, the odds of hitting the jackpot aren‘t great at 1 in 292 million. But Powerball is popular because it frequently has jackpots over $200 million! It‘s also easier to win smaller prizes. There have been many millionaires made from matching 4+ numbers. Overall odds of any prize are 1 in 24.9.
Mega Millions
MegaMillions also regularly climbs over $400 million for its top prize. The appeal is identical to Powerball – a minor prize can still be $10,000 or more. Mega Millions odds are slightly better than Powerball at 1 in 24 overall. The two games have produced Florida‘s biggest winners!
Florida Lottery Scratch Games
Scratch-off lovers have great options too. Here are my favorite instant ticket games sold in Florida and their top prizes:
- 500X The Cash – $25 million
- $5,000,000 Luck – $5 million
- $20,000,000 Supreme Riches – $20 million
- Maximum Millions – $15 million
- 50X The Cash – $5 million
I particularly like the family of X The Cash games. They offer the biggest prizes for their price points. Who doesn‘t want a shot at $25 million?
In terms of cheapest price point, try the Cashword or Bingo scratchers for $2 and $3. Or for better odds, go with the $20 games like Supreme Riches and Maximum Millions.
When to Buy Tickets
You don‘t necessarily have to wait until the last minute to purchase draw game tickets in Florida:
- Earlier gives more ticket choices if stores run out of stock
- Buying well ahead of time lets you take advantage of discounts on Powerball and MegaMillions tickets in Florida. Many stores offer promotions like buy two quick picks, get one free.
- Waiting until near cutoff times (after 10:00 PM ET) allows you to see the size of the jackpots before deciding to play or not.
My personal preference – I tend to buy at least a couple hours before sales end to make sure I secure tickets. But I always purchase more if the jackpots look juicy!
For scratch games, timing matters less. New instant ticket games come out all year long though, so frequent stops to your local retailer means you‘ll get to try the latest scratchers.
Where to Buy Tickets In Person
Thousands of grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and more all sell lottery tickets in Florida. Download the Florida Lottery app to find authorized retailers near you.
Some things I consider when picking a lottery retailer:
- How updated is their selection of scratch games?
- Are cheaper $1-$5 games or $20 high price point games available?
- Are subjective favorites like Cashword or Crossword scratchers in stock?
- Does the store offer promotions on multi-draw games?
The Florida Lottery app makes it easy to scout for all these attributes and also buy tickets online.
Speaking of which…
Buying Tickets Online
The official mobile app lets you conveniently order draw game tickets online in advance. You can store favorite numbers, check past winning numbers, and manage Season Pass subscriptions.
Unfortunately, scratch games are not available for purchase online. You need to visit authorized retailers for those instant printed tickets.
One tip is you can build a wishlist of scratcher names in the app. Use it as a checklist when buying physical tickets across different stores and track what you still need!
Claiming Prizes
According to Florida Lottery rules, draw game prizes must be redeemed within 180 days of the winning draw date. Meanwhile, scratch-off prizes expire 90 days after the official game end date in Florida.
Make sure to sign the back of your winning ticket immediately and store it very securely until ready to claim. Taking photos or video recording your ticket is also a good idea.
To collect lottery prizes in Florida:
- Prizes Under $600: Cash out at any authorized Florida Lottery store
- Prizes $600 and Over: Claim winnings by mail or visiting a Lottery district office
- Prizes $250,000 and Over: Must be redeemed in person at Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee
Call the Florida Lottery at 850-487-7777 to make an appointment for large prize claims before visiting offices.
Taxes on Winnings
For U.S. citizens and resident aliens, the IRS will take a 24% automatic federal withholding tax from any Florida Lottery prize over $5,000. Florida Lottery prizes are also taxable as income by the state.
I recommend consulting with tax professionals to minimize how much overall tax you‘ll owe. Proper planning, like sheltering money into trusts, helps reduce taxes owed on lottery fortunes.
That covers everything you need to know about buying those winning tickets in Florida! With jackpots always climbing and new scratch-off games popping up every month, we have plenty of exciting lottery action ahead.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about purchasing times, lottery games, claiming prizes, or taxes on winnings here in Florida!
