The Texas Lottery cutoff time for Powerball ticket sales is 9:00 PM CT on the day of the drawing. Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET (9:59 PM CT). This means that in order to be eligible for a particular Powerball drawing, players must purchase their tickets by 9:00 PM CT on the night of that drawing.
When are the Powerball drawings held?
Powerball drawings take place three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights at 10:59 PM ET (9:59 PM CT). Here is the Powerball drawing schedule:
- Monday drawings at 10:59 PM ET
- Wednesday drawings at 10:59 PM ET
- Saturday drawings at 10:59 PM ET
So for a Monday night drawing, the deadline to buy tickets in Texas would be 9:00 PM CT that same Monday. For a Wednesday drawing, the deadline is 9:00 PM CT on Wednesday. And for Saturday drawings, purchase tickets by 9:00 PM CT on Saturday.
Why is there a ticket sales cutoff time?
The ticket sales cutoff time exists so that lottery officials have time to calculate the number of winning tickets for each prize tier ahead of the drawing. They need to know how many tickets have been sold and how many possible winning combinations there are in order to determine the payouts for each tier if there is a winner.
With massive multi-state games like Powerball, this involves coordinating ticket sales data across all participating states to ensure an accurate jackpot amount and set cash value. Having a hard cutoff allows enough time for officials to finalize all of the data before the balls are drawn.
What happens if you miss the 9:00 PM CT cutoff?
If you attempt to purchase a Powerball ticket after the 9:00 PM CT cutoff time on the night of a drawing, you will not be eligible for that particular drawing. The retailer’s system will not allow a ticket sale after the cutoff time. If you try to buy a ticket at 9:01 PM or later, you will instead receive a ticket for the next Powerball drawing.
So for example, if you try to buy a Powerball ticket at 9:15 PM CT on Wednesday night, you will end up with a ticket for the Saturday drawing instead of the Wednesday drawing you intended to play.
Can you buy Powerball tickets in advance?
Yes, you can purchase Powerball tickets in advance of the drawing you want to play. Many players choose to buy tickets days or even weeks ahead of time to make sure they don’t miss entering their numbers.
Just be sure you are clear about which drawing you are playing for. Tell the retailer the specific date of the drawing you want your ticket entered for. Some key things to remember:
- Tickets purchased before the ticket sales cutoff remain eligible for that drawing even if you don’t claim the prize right away.
- Unclaimed prizes can be claimed up to 180 days after the drawing in Texas.
- Tickets purchased after the cutoff will be for a future drawing, not the one you intended.
Where can you buy Texas Powerball tickets?
Powerball tickets can be purchased at any authorized Texas Lottery retailer throughout the state. There are over 19,000 approved retailers across Texas. Some of the most common places to buy Powerball tickets include:
- Convenience stores
- Gas stations
- Supermarkets
- Liquor stores
- Newsstands
- Pharmacies
- Big box stores like Walmart and Target
You can use the Texas Lottery website or mobile app to find a full list of authorized retailers near you selling official Powerball tickets.
Can you buy Powerball tickets online in Texas?
No, Texas does not currently allow online lottery ticket sales or subscriptions. All Powerball tickets must be purchased in person from a licensed Texas Lottery retailer. There are some authorized lottery courier services that will purchase tickets and deliver them on your behalf for a fee.
What time do Texas lottery retailers close?
Closing times for Texas lottery retailers vary. Here are some general guidelines:
- Convenience stores are typically open 24/7.
- Gas stations are generally open 24 hours a day.
- Grocery stores close around 10-11 PM.
- Newsstands are usually open 7 AM – 10 PM.
- Big box stores close around 10-11 PM.
To be sure, you can check with your local retailer for their specific closing time. Many locations will remain open until the 9:00 PM CT Powerball sales cutoff on drawing nights.
What if a retailer closes before the 9:00 PM CT deadline?
In the event a particular Texas Lottery retailer closes before the Powerball ticket sales cutoff time, you will need to find an alternate retailer that is open later. Convenience stores and gas stations are a safe bet since they are usually open 24 hours.
Be aware that some smaller independent shops may choose to close early if they don’t get much lottery traffic late at night. Your best option is to call ahead and ask if they will remain open until 9:00 PM CT on drawing nights.
What time can you first buy Powerball tickets in Texas?
Powerball tickets first go on sale in Texas at 6:00 AM CT on the day of a drawing. For instance, you can start buying tickets at 6:00 AM CT on Monday mornings for that night’s Monday drawing. Tickets will remain on sale until the 9:00 PM CT cutoff.
On mornings following a drawing, tickets for the next drawing go on sale starting at 6:00 AM CT. So if you want to get an early start, head to your local retailer starting at 6:00 AM.
Can you purchase Powerball tickets on Sundays in Texas?
Yes, you can purchase Powerball tickets in Texas on Sundays. The Texas Lottery allows lottery ticket sales every day of the week.
On Sundays, you can buy Powerball tickets for the next eligible drawing, which would be the Monday night drawing. Ticket sales open at 6:00 AM CT on Sundays for Monday drawings.
What time is the Powerball drawing on TV?
The Powerball drawings are televised live on stations around the country at 10:59 PM ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. In Texas, you can watch the drawing on the following stations:
- KERA in Dallas – Ch 13
- KHOU in Houston – Ch 11
- KSAT in San Antonio – Ch 12
- KXAN in Austin – Ch 36
- KAMR in Amarillo – Ch 4
- KLBK in Lubbock – Ch 13
- KOSA in Odessa – Ch 7
- KFDA in Amarillo – Ch 10
You can also watch the drawing live online at the Powerball website. The winning numbers are posted shortly after the conclusion of the drawing.
What Powerball lottery games can you play in Texas?
The Texas Lottery offers the following Powerball games:
- Powerball – The flagship Powerball game with jackpots starting at $40 million. It costs $2 per play.
- Powerball Double Play – An extra add-on game for $1 per play with a top prize of $10 million.
- Powerball with Power Play – Adds a multiplier to non-jackpot prizes for an extra $1 per play.
For an additional $1-3 per play, you can multiply your lower-tier winnings with the Power Play or play an extra board with Double Play.
What are the Powerball ticket options and costs?
| Play Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Powerball | $2 |
| Powerball Double Play | $3 |
| Powerball with Power Play | $3 |
| Powerball with Double Play and Power Play | $4 |
The basic Powerball play is $2. For $1 more per play, you can add either the Double Play or Power Play option. Playing both add-ons costs $4 total per ticket.
What are the main Powerball jackpot prizes?
There are two main Powerball jackpot prizes:
- Grand Prize – Matched 5 white balls and the red Powerball. Starts at $40 million and rolls over until won.
- Double Play First Prize – Matched 5 white balls and the red Powerball on the additional Double Play draw. Fixed at $10 million.
Both jackpots offer the choice of a lump-sum cash payout or the full amount annuitized over 30 annual payments. The Grand Prize grows based on sales until someone wins, while the Double Play First Prize always remains at $10 million.
What are the secondary Powerball prizes?
The 9 ways to win secondary Powerball prizes and their fixed amounts are:
- Match 5 white balls – $1 million
- Match 4 white balls + Powerball – $50,000
- Match 4 white balls – $100
- Match 3 white balls + Powerball – $100
- Match 3 white balls – $7
- Match 2 white balls + Powerball – $7
- Match 1 white ball + Powerball – $4
- Match Powerball only – $4
The Power Play add-on can multiply these amounts by up to 10x except the top prizes.
What are the odds of winning Powerball?
The odds of winning a Powerball prize are as follows:
- Grand Prize – 1 in 292,201,338
- Double Play First Prize – 1 in 292,201,338
- Match 5 white balls – 1 in 11,688,053.52
- Match 4 white balls + Powerball – 1 in 913,129.18
- Match 4 white balls – 1 in 36,525.17
- Match 3 white balls + Powerball – 1 in 14,494.11
- Match 3 white balls – 1 in 579.76
- Match 2 white balls + Powerball – 1 in 701.33
- Match 1 white ball + Powerball – 1 in 91.98
- Match Powerball only – 1 in 38.32
A player has a 1 in 24.87 chance of winning any Powerball prize. The overall odds are the same whether you buy one ticket or multiple tickets for a drawing.
How are Powerball jackpots calculated?
The minimum Powerball jackpot is $40 million, which grows based on game sales and rolls over until there is a grand prize winner. There are two parts to the jackpot calculations:
- The jackpot prize pool – This starts at $40 million and increases by at least $10 million per roll. It grows higher based on game sales.
- The cash value option – Set by the Multi-State Lottery Association, it is usually around 30-40% of the overall jackpot pool.
If no one matches all 6 numbers, the jackpot rolls over and the prize pool keeps increasing. The cash value also rises accordingly. Powerball jackpots have climbed as high as $1.586 billion before a winner was drawn.
How long do you have to claim a Powerball prize?
For winning Powerball tickets purchased in Texas, you have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim your prize. Some key deadlines:
- Prizes under $5 million must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing.
- Prizes over $5 million get an additional 60 days – so 240 days from the drawing date.
- For jackpot prizes, you have 180 days to choose the cash or annuity option.
Be sure to sign the back of your ticket for security and safety. Keep it in a safe place until you are ready to claim your prize.
Where do unclaimed Powerball prizes go?
For winning Powerball tickets purchased in Texas, all unclaimed prize money remains in the state. Unclaimed prizes under $2 million go back into the general lottery fund to help boost future games and payouts.
For unclaimed jackpots and prizes over $2 million, the funds are transferred to authorized Texas Department of Health programs providing assistance to veterans.
What is the average Powerball jackpot win?
The average Powerball jackpot win is approximately $100 million. Here are some key facts about typical Powerball jackpots:
- Over 50 jackpots per year are typically hit, averaging 1-2 per week.
- Most jackpot wins fall in the range of $40 million to $80 million.
- Mega jackpots of several hundred million are infrequent.
- The overall odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292 million.
While huge jackpots that make national headlines are rare, smaller jackpots in the tens or hundreds of millions are commonly won, usually within a few drawings.
What taxes are taken out of Powerball jackpot wins?
Powerball jackpot winners are subject to both federal and state taxes. Tax rates will vary depending on where you purchased your ticket and reside.
For winners in Texas:
- Federal tax is taken out at a flat 24% rate, regardless of income.
- Texas does not collect state income tax on lottery winnings.
So a Texas resident who wins a $100 million Powerball jackpot will take home around $76 million after federal withholding. State taxes do not apply. Consult a tax professional to be sure of your exact net amount.
Conclusion
In summary, Powerball ticket sales in Texas close at 9:00 PM CT on the night of the drawings, which occur every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased in advance, but sales are cut off at 9:00 PM CT, after which point you will only be able to buy tickets for the next drawing. Winners get 180 days to claim prizes under $5 million or 240 days for larger prizes. Jackpots start at $40 million and grow based on sales. Taxes of 24% are withheld for federal purposes, but Texas does not tax lottery winnings. Be sure to buy your Powerball tickets in Texas before the 9:00 PM CT cutoff to play for that night’s huge jackpot!