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With a record-breaking jackpot at stake, people around the country are scooping up last-minute Mega Millions tickets to take their shot at winning a whopping $1.6 billion. However, with the drawing only hours away, the clock is ticking for lottery hopefuls to purchase tickets.
On Tuesday, the Mega Millions drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EDT and a winner will possibly be selected to receive a life-altering amount of money. While the jackpot is available to ticket purchasers nationwide, lottery rules vary state to state, including the cut off time to purchase tickets.
Arizona
For lotteries that fall between the second Sunday in March and the first Saturday in November, lottery ticket sales end in Arizona at 6:59 p.m. local time. For lotteries occurring from the first Sunday in November to the second Saturday in March, sales end at 7:59 p.m. local time.
Arkansas
Sales in Arkansas end at 9:45 p.m. CDT on the day of the drawing.
California
Californians have an opportunity to purchase lottery tickets until 7:45 p.m. PDT, 15 minutes before the drawing.
Colorado
Tickets sales end in Colorado at 7:30 p.m. MDT on Tuesday and Friday drawing nights.
Connecticut
On drawing nights, Connecticut buyers have to secure their ticket by 10:45 p.m. EDT
Delaware
People hoping their winning lottery ticket awaits them in Delaware must purchase one by 9:45 p.m. EDT on the day of the drawing.
Florida
Game sales close at 10:00 p.m. EDT in Florida and will remain closed until 10:05 p.m. EDT, when tickets will resume being sold for the next drawing.
Georgia
Mega Millions tickets are sold until 10:45 p.m. EDT in Georgia on the days they’re drawn and until 1:00 a.m. EDT on every other day.
Idaho
In Idaho, players can purchase tickets up to one hour and five minutes prior to the draw on the night of the draw. For an 11:00 p.m. EDT drawing, ticket sales end at 7:55 p.m. MDT.
Illinois
Tickets are sold in Illinois until 9:45 p.m. EDT on the day of the drawing.
Indiana
Although many states allow tickets to be sold until 10:45 p.m. EDT, in Indiana, the cut off time is 10:44 p.m. EDT.
Iowa
Sales for the Mega Millions lottery end at 8:49 p.m. CDT in Iowa.
Kansas
Players have until 8:59 p.m. CDT on the day of a drawing to purchase a lottery ticket in Kansas.
Kentucky
At 9:45 p.m. CDT, Kentucky lottery ticket sales are halted until after the drawing occurs.
Louisiana
To be eligible to win, tickets must be purchased by 9:00 p.m. CDT on the day of the drawing in Louisiana.
Maine
Ticket sales end at 9:50 p.m. EDT on the day of the drawing in Maine.
Maryland
In Maryland, sales for lottery tickets are cut off about 15 minutes prior to the drawing.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts lottery tickets are sold until 10:45 p.m. EDT on the day of the draw.
Michigan
Lottery tickets are sold in Michigan until 10:45 p.m. EDT on the day of the drawing.
Minnesota
Lottery winner hopefuls in Minnesota must secure their ticket by 9:00 p.m. CDT.
Missouri
Ticket sales end at 8:59 p.m. CDT in Missouri on the day of the drawing and remain closed until 10:00 p.m. CDT.
Montana
Montana stores are required to stop selling lottery tickets at 8:00 p.m. MDT on the day of the drawing.
Nebraska
Tickets are not able to be purchased for that night’s drawing after 9:00 p.m. CDT on the day of a drawing in Nebraska.
New Hampshire
Sales are cut off in New Hampshire for the Mega Millions at 9:50 p.m. EDT on the day of the draw.
New Jersey
New Jerseyans just have to have their ticket in their possession by 10:45 p.m. EDT on the day of a draw to be eligible to win.
New Mexico
At 8:45 p.m. MDT on the night of a drawing, New Mexico lottery ticket sales are cut off.
New York
Ticket sales end for that night’s draw at 10:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays in New York.
North Carolina
If you’re playing in North Carolina, be sure to purchase a ticket before 10:45 p.m. on the night of the drawing.
North Dakota
Drawings in North Dakota are held at 10:00 p.m. CDT and eligible tickets much be purchased before 8:58 p.m. CDT.
Ohio
Ohio lottery ticket sales for the Mega Millions cuts off at 10:45 p.m. EDT when the lottery is drawn on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, tickets must be purchased by 8:59 p.m. CDT on the night of the drawing.
Oregon
Mega Millions players in Oregon have until 7:00 p.m. PDT on Tuesdays and Fridays to be eligible to win that night.
Pennsylvania
Ticket sales end at 9:59 p.m. EDT on draw days in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Tickets for the Mega Millions drawing can be purchased at any time until 9:50 p.m. EDT on nights that a drawing is taking place.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, adults over the age of 18 must purchase a ticket before 10:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays and Fridays.
South Dakota
Tickets must be purchased by 9:00 p.m. for South Dakotans in the Central Time Zone and by 8:00 p.m. for those in the Mountain Time Zone.
Tennessee
Tennessee lottery tickets are sold until 9:45 p.m. CDT on Tuesdays and Fridays when the drawing takes place.
Texas
Ticket sales are halted between 9:45 p.m. CDT and 10:15 p.m. CDT in Texas on days of a drawing.
Vermont
In Vermont, people have until 9:50 p.m. EDT on the day of a draw to purchase a ticket for that night.
Virginia
Virginia retailers stop selling tickets for drawings on Tuesday and Friday at 10:45 p.m. EDT the day of the draw.
Washington
For people in Washington, tickets must be purchased by 7:45 p.m. PDT on draw nights.
Washington, D.C.
Tickets in the nation’s capital are sold until 10:45 p.m. EDT on the day of drawings.
West Virginia
In West Virginia, Mega Millions sales end at 9:59 p.m. EDT every Tuesday and Thursday.
Wisconsin
On Tuesdays and Fridays, tickets in Wisconsin can only be purchased until 9:00 p.m. CDT.
Wyoming
Ticket sales close in Wyoming at 8:00 p.m. MDT and the drawing occurs at 9:00 p.m. MDT.
On days of lottery drawings, especially when the jackpot is as large as Tuesday’s drawing is, there can be a rush to get last-minute tickets. It’s important to remember that the cut off times are for when tickets are sold, not when a person shows up to purchase a ticket. So, if there’s a long line and it’s close to the cutoff, it’s possible a person could get to the front and be too late.
Only six states do not sell Mega Millions lottery tickets – Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Mississippi and Alabama. Tickets can also be purchased in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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