You’re standing at the gas station counter. The line is moving slow. You’ve got a couple of bucks in your pocket and that giant neon sign is screaming about a jackpot that could buy a small island.
But then it hits you. Did the drawing already happen? Is it tonight?
Honestly, trying to keep the schedule straight for the two biggest lotteries in the world feels like a part-time job sometimes. Between time zone math and the different days of the week, it's easy to miss out.
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The short version? Mega Millions and Powerball drawings happen five nights a week combined. If it’s a weekday or a Saturday, there is a very high chance someone is about to become a multimillionaire.
The Weekly Schedule Breakdown
Let’s get the raw numbers out of the way first.
Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday.
Basically, Sunday and Thursday are your only "nights off."
If you are looking for the exact time, set your watch for 10:59 p.m. ET for Powerball and 11:00 p.m. ET for Mega Millions. Yeah, that one-minute difference is kind of a weird quirk of the industry, but it matters if you’re trying to catch the live broadcast.
Why the Monday Drawing Changed Everything
For years, Powerball was just a Wednesday and Saturday thing. Then, back in 2021, they added Monday nights into the mix.
Why? To build bigger jackpots, faster.
More drawings mean more tickets sold and, more importantly, more "rollovers." When nobody wins on Monday, that Wednesday jackpot looks a lot juicier. It’s a psychological game as much as a math one.
When are Mega Millions and Powerball drawings held in my time zone?
This is where people usually trip up. The drawings happen in Florida (Powerball) and Georgia (Mega Millions), so everything is pinned to Eastern Time.
If you live in Los Angeles, you aren’t waiting until 11:00 p.m. to see those numbers. You’re checking your phone during dinner.
- Eastern Time: 10:59 p.m. (Powerball) / 11:00 p.m. (Mega Millions)
- Central Time: 9:59 p.m. (Powerball) / 10:00 p.m. (Mega Millions)
- Mountain Time: 8:59 p.m. (Powerball) / 9:00 p.m. (Mega Millions)
- Pacific Time: 7:59 p.m. (Powerball) / 8:00 p.m. (Mega Millions)
Check your local listings if you're watching on TV. Some local news stations tape-delay the drawing by a few minutes to fit their broadcast schedule.
The "Cut-Off Time" Trap
Don't wait until 10:58 p.m. to buy your ticket. You will lose.
Every state has a "draw break." This is a window where the lottery terminals stop selling tickets for the current drawing so they can account for every single entry before the balls start spinning.
In most states, the cut-off is one to two hours before the drawing.
For example, in Florida and Pennsylvania, ticket sales usually close at 10:00 p.m. ET. If you walk in at 10:05 p.m., the clerk can still sell you a ticket, but it’ll be for the next drawing, not the one happening in an hour. There is nothing worse than realizing your "winning" numbers were on a ticket for the wrong date.
Where the Magic Happens
Powerball is drawn at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee. They use these high-tech gravity-pick machines called the Halogen. They're basically fancy air-mixers that ensure every ball has an equal chance of being "the one."
Mega Millions is broadcast from the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta.
If you want to watch live, you’ve got options. You can go the old-school route and find a local affiliate (usually ABC, CBS, or NBC), or you can just hop on YouTube. Both lotteries stream their drawings live on their official channels.
Double Play: The Second Chance
If you play Powerball in certain states, you’ve probably seen the "Double Play" option for an extra dollar.
This is a separate drawing that happens about 30 minutes after the main one. It uses the same numbers you already picked. The top prize is $10 million, which isn't a billion, but it's enough to quit your job and buy a very nice house.
Strategies for the Forgetful
If you can't remember what day it is—don't worry, most of us can't—there are ways to automate this.
- Subscription Services: Many state lotteries (like Virginia or New York) let you play online. You can set up a subscription so your numbers are automatically entered for every drawing for the next month.
- Multi-Draw Tickets: When you buy a physical ticket, you can check a box for "Multi-Draw." This lets you use the same numbers for up to 26 consecutive drawings.
- Lottery Apps: Apps like Jackpocket or your official state lottery app will send you a push notification the second the numbers are official.
The Hard Truth About Odds
Let’s be real for a second. Your odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are roughly 1 in 302.5 million. Powerball is slightly "easier" at 1 in 292.2 million.
To put that in perspective, you are more likely to be struck by lightning while being attacked by a shark.
But people don't play because the math is good. They play for the "what if." They play because, for two dollars, you get to spend an afternoon dreaming about telling your boss where to shove it.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Play
If you're planning on jumping in for the next big jackpot, keep these points in mind so you don't waste your money:
- Check the Date: Always look at the "Drawing Date" printed on your ticket. If it doesn't match the night you think it is, talk to the retailer immediately.
- Sign the Back: The second that ticket pops out of the machine, sign the back. In the eyes of the law, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." That means whoever holds it, owns it. If you drop a winning ticket and haven't signed it, whoever finds it can claim your prize.
- Don't Forget the Small Prizes: Most people throw their tickets away if they don't hit the jackpot. Huge mistake. You can win $4 just for matching the Powerball. Thousands of dollars in smaller prizes go unclaimed every year because people only look for the big numbers.
- Verify with the App: Human eyes make mistakes. Use a ticket scanner at a retail location or the official app to verify your numbers.
Now you know exactly when are mega millions and powerball drawings and how to make sure you're actually in the running. Whether it's a Monday night or a Friday afternoon, just make sure you get your tickets before that 10:00 p.m. cut-off. Good luck—you're going to need it.