The Mega Millions lottery is one of the biggest multi-state lottery games in the United States. It is played in 45 states, including Tennessee. Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Players have to purchase Mega Millions tickets before the cutoff time on Tuesday and Friday to be eligible to participate in that day’s drawing. The cutoff time varies by state depending on the jurisdiction. In Tennessee, tickets must be purchased by 10:45 pm Eastern Time on drawing nights to be included in the Mega Millions drawing on that date. Knowing the Tennessee Mega Millions cutoff time is important for players who want to take part in the next drawing.
Mega Millions Game Overview
Mega Millions is a multi-jurisdictional lottery game operated by 45 state lotteries along with the District of Columbia and the U.S Virgin Islands. The game began in 1996 as The Big Game and participating lotteries have changed over the years. The Mega Millions name was adopted in 2002.
To play Mega Millions, players pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers. Five numbers ranging from 1 to 70 are picked from the white balls pool. One number, known as the Mega Ball, is picked from a second pool of gold balls numbered 1 to 25. Players can choose their own six numbers by using a play slip or opt for a Quick Pick ticket where the numbers are randomly generated by the terminal.
The minimum Mega Millions ticket costs $2. Players also have the option to add the Megaplier feature to their ticket for an additional $1 per play. The Megaplier multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 5 times if the multiplier number drawn matches the ticket.
During the drawings, five white balls are drawn from the first pool followed by the Mega Ball from the second pool. Players can win prizes by matching some or all of their numbers to the numbers drawn. The jackpot prize is awarded to tickets that match all six numbers drawn.
The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million and continues growing until it is won. If no ticket matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the next drawing. Mega Millions jackpots have soared to record amounts in the past, reaching as high as $1.537 billion in October 2018.
Mega Millions Drawings
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. The drawings take place at the WSB-TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia under the supervision of the Georgia Lottery.
During the drawing, five white balls are drawn from one drum containing 70 white balls numbered 1 to 70. Then, the Mega Ball is drawn from a second drum containing 25 gold balls numbered 1 to 25. Drawing officials and independent auditors are present to ensure the security and integrity of the draw.
The drawing machines and ball sets are certified by independent testing laboratories to guarantee proper working order and randomization. The balls are checked for damage and weighed carefully prior to each draw.
All valid tickets that match the five white balls, or the five white balls and the Mega Ball, wins a prize. The jackpot prize goes to tickets that match all five white balls plus the Mega Ball. Matching just the Mega Ball wins $2.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are broadcast shortly after each draw on local TV stations in participating areas. Players can also find the results posted online at the Mega Millions website as well as through participating state lottery websites and mobile apps.
Purchasing Mega Millions Tickets in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the Tennessee Lottery operates Mega Millions and is responsible for ticket sales and prize payments for the game. There are a few ways to purchase Mega Millions tickets in Tennessee:
- Authorized Tennessee Lottery retailers – Players can visit any of the over 4,800 authorized lottery retailers across Tennessee. Most grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores sell lottery tickets. Players must be 18 years or older.
- Lottery Vending Machines – Self-service vending machines selling lottery tickets are available at certain retail locations. Players can use the vending machines to purchase Mega Millions tickets.
- Online – Mega Millions tickets can be purchased through the Tennessee Lottery website or mobile app. Players have to sign up for an account with the Tennessee Lottery and deposit funds to buy tickets online.
- Subscription service – Tennessee players can arrange subscription service to get Mega Millions tickets for every draw automatically without having to visit retailers. Subscriptions can be set up online or through the mail.
When buying Mega Millions tickets in person, players choose their numbers by using a play slip or opting for computer-generated Quick Pick numbers. Online play requires players to choose a type of play and number of draws before picking individual numbers or getting computer picked numbers.
Tickets purchased in Tennessee can only be used to claim prizes through the Tennessee Lottery. Mega Millions tickets are valid for the next upcoming drawing.
Mega Millions Ticket Cutoff in Tennessee
In Tennessee, there is a strict ticket cutoff time for Mega Millions before each drawing on Tuesdays and Fridays. All ticket purchases must be completed by 10:45 pm ET on the night of the drawing to be eligible.
The ticket cutoff times for Mega Millions in Tennessee are:
- Tuesdays at 10:45 pm ET
- Fridays at 10:45 pm ET
These cutoff times are closely followed and enforced. Ticket sales for a specific drawing end promptly at 10:45 pm ET in Tennessee.
Sometimes players trying to beat the deadline wait until the last minute to buy Mega Millions tickets. Long lines can form at retail locations as the 10:45 pm cutoff approaches. Players still in line or in the process of paying at 10:45 pm are allowed to complete their purchases. But ticket sales must end strictly at the advertised cutoff.
Any Mega Millions tickets sold in Tennessee after the 10:45 pm ET cutoff times on Tuesdays or Fridays will not be valid for the drawing on that date. The tickets can be used for the next drawing.
Players should be aware that the time tickets are printed from the lottery terminal can serve as the official purchase time. By waiting until the last minutes before 10:45 pm to get in line on drawing nights, players take the risk of not completing their purchases before the cutoff.
Why Mega Millions Ticket Cutoff Times Are Strictly Enforced
Mega Millions has very strict ticket cutoff times that are consistently followed in Tennessee and all participating jurisdictions. There are a few reasons why the 10:45 pm ET cutoff is so strictly followed:
- Ensure all ticket sales for a drawing are completed before the drawing occurs – Having an earlier cutoff allows all ticket purchases to be finished before the actual drawing happens at 11:00 pm ET. This prevents confusion over which drawing a ticket is for.
- Allow time for ticket sale reporting – Cutoff times give lottery officials time to reconcile sales and account for all tickets sold before the next drawing. Tickets have to be registered in the system before they can be considered valid for a drawing.
- Discourage late ticket purchases – Sharp cutoff times discourage players from waiting until the very last minute to buy tickets. This helps manage long lines and congestion at retailers near the deadline.
- Provide a clear deadline – Having a firm cutoff time provides a clear, unambiguous deadline for players to follow. It prevents confusion over whether a ticket can still qualify for a particular drawing after a certain time.
Enforcing the established Mega Millions ticket cutoff times helps ensure fairness, accuracy, and order in operating the lottery game in Tennessee. The Tennessee Lottery wants all players to be aware of and follow the deadlines. Players waiting until the last minute take the risk of not making the cutoff.
Can Players Buy Mega Millions Tickets Online After the Cutoff?
In Tennessee, players are not able to purchase Mega Millions tickets online after the 10:45 pm ET cutoff time on drawing nights. The Tennessee Lottery’s website and mobile app do not allow ticket sales for a drawing after the deadline passes.
If players attempt to buy Mega Millions tickets on the lottery’s website after 10:45 pm ET on Tuesday or Friday, they will receive a message that ticket sales are closed for the next drawing. The next available drawing date will be shown.
There are a couple reasons online ticket sales must also stop promptly at the Mega Millions cutoff time in Tennessee:
- Maintain fairness with retail sales – Allowing continued online sales after the retail cutoff time would provide an unfair advantage to online players over retail players.
- Prevent confusion over drawing eligibility – Letting online sales run past the deadline could cause confusion about which drawing the tickets are valid for. All tickets, whether bought online or at retail, must be for the same specified drawing.
- Uphold ticket cutoff policy – Tennessee’s lottery policies require all Mega Millions ticket sales, including online, to stop at the established cutoff time for each drawing.
The Tennessee Lottery’s online system is designed to stop Mega Millions ticket sales for a specific draw immediately at 10:45 pm ET. Players need to purchase tickets before this cutoff to participate in a particular drawing.
What Happens When Players Miss the Mega Millions Ticket Cutoff in Tennessee
For Tennessee players who miss the 10:45 pm ET Mega Millions ticket cutoff on drawing nights, any ticket purchases made after the deadline will automatically go towards the next drawing.
If players show up at a retailer at 10:50 pm ET to buy Mega Millions tickets on Friday when the drawing is at 11:00 pm ET that night, they will miss the cutoff for that drawing. The retailer will still sell them tickets, but for the next drawing on Tuesday.
This ensures the late purchase can still participate, just not in the drawing on the night they bought the ticket. The Tuesday drawing will be printed on the ticket as the valid drawing date.
The same applies to any Mega Millions tickets bought online after 10:45 pm on drawing nights. The Tennessee Lottery’s system will issue tickets for the next available drawing, not the one about to happen that night.
Missing the cutoff is not grounds for a ticket refund. Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, so players are responsible for showing up before the established deadlines. The Tennessee Lottery does not make exceptions for players who miss the advertised cutoff times.
Other Mega Millions Ticket Purchase Deadlines in Tennessee
In addition to the 10:45 pm ET ticket cutoff times on drawing nights, some other important Mega Millions ticket deadlines in Tennessee include:
- Tickets must be purchased before drawings begin – Players cannot wait until the live drawings start at 11:00 pm ET to purchase Mega Millions tickets. Tickets must be purchased beforehand.
- Online ticket orders stop at 10:00 pm ET – While the total ticket cutoff is 10:45 pm, online orders through the Tennessee Lottery website and app stop at 10:00 pm to allow time for order processing.
- Subscription sales close at 7:00 pm ET – Mega Millions ticket subscription orders must be placed by 7:00 pm ET to be valid for that night’s drawing.
- Prize claims end at 4:00 pm ET – Winning Mega Millions tickets in Tennessee must be redeemed within 180 days. The redemption deadline each day is 4:00 pm ET.
These and other lottery policies are designed to ensure orderly, fair, and accurate operations for Mega Millions in Tennessee. Following the established timelines is crucial.
Conclusion
Knowing the Mega Millions ticket cutoff time in Tennessee is key information for lottery players. On drawing nights, Tuesday and Friday, all Mega Millions ticket sales must end at 10:45 pm Eastern Time for that night’s drawing.
The Tennessee Lottery rigorously enforces this deadline across all sales channels, including online and retail. Tickets purchased after the 10:45 pm ET cutoff will be issued for the next drawing.
To participate in a particular Mega Millions drawing in Tennessee, players must finish ticket transactions before 10:45 pm on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Being aware of the cutoff and getting to retailers early is important to ensure ticket sales can be completed in time. Following Tennessee’s clearly defined Mega Millions ticket cutoff rules allows the lottery game to operate in a fair, accurate, and secure manner for all players.