What time is the cutoff for mega millions

With a little, or a lot, of luck, someone will be crowned the big winner of the Mega Millions lottery and the $1 billion jackpot. As the drawing nears, it's natural for people to rush to buy tickets, but there is a cutoff time for people taking their shot at becoming wealthy beyond their imagination.

Table of Contents Show

Detailed Draw Results for California
Past Winning Numbers
What is the latest time to buy Mega Millions?
Is it too late to buy a Mega Millions ticket?
How late can you play the Mega Ball?
Whats the latest you can buy a lottery ticket?

In many states, eligible tickets are sold until 15 minutes before the drawing takes place. The drawing for Mega Millions will occur at 11 p.m. EDT on Friday, so, if you live in an eligible state on the East Coast, you have to purchase your ticket by 10:45 p.m EDT. If you're in Central Time Zone, that means 9:45 p.m. CDT. The West Coast should have their tickets in hand by 7:45 p.m PDT.

However, there are exceptions to this time limit, so it's best to check the rules in your own state. For example, in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, the cutoff is 9:50 p.m. EDT on the day of the drawing.

After a series of drawings during which no one hit big, the Mega Millions reached a whopping $1 billion with a cash option of $565 million on Friday. The massive prize is the second-largest pot of cash in United States lottery history.

A woman purchases Mega Millions tickets in Washington, D.C., on Friday, as the jackpot nears $1 billion. The last chance to purchase tickets in most states is 15 minutes before the drawing. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

To take a shot at winning the life-changing prize money, a person over the age of 18 needs to purchase a ticket for two dollars with the option to guess the Megaplier for an extra dollar. Tickets are sold at a variety of establishments, including convenience stores, gas stations and newspaper stands.

There are two ways a person can select their numbers, either by choosing specific numbers or through random selection. If there is a set of lucky numbers the person wants to play, they select five different numbers ranging from one to 70 and one number ranging from one to 25. If the person wants to leave it up to the computer to decide their fate, they can select the Easy Pick/Quick Pick option and have numbers generated for them.

There are nine ways a person can win the Mega Million lottery, ranging from the top prize down to the cost of their ticket:

5 numbers + gold Mega Ball match = Jackpot
5 numbers + no gold Mega Ball match = $1,000,000
4 numbers + gold Mega Ball match = $10,000
4 numbers + no gold Mega Ball match = $500
3 numbers + gold Mega Ball match = $200
3 numbers + no gold Mega Ball match = $10
2 numbers + gold ball match = $10
1 number + gold ball match = $4
0 numbers + gold ball match = $2

Winners have two choices for claiming their prize, either in an immediate payment followed by 29 subsequent payments, or in one lump sum of cash.

While not as high as the Mega Millions prize, also on the line this weekend is the $470 million prize attached to the Power Ball. The drawing for the Power Ball will take place on Saturday evening.

Detailed Draw Results for California

Matching Numbers	Winning Tickets	Prize Amounts
5 + Mega	0	$20,000,000
5	0	$620,358
4 + Mega	0	$13,096
4	25	$589
3 + Mega	80	$209
3	2,005	$10
2 + Mega	1,551	$11
1 + Mega	12,860	$4
Mega	31,384	$2
Total Winning Tickets	47,905

To see draw results for participating Mega Millions lotteries outside California, search Mega Millions results.

In California, Mega Millions prize amounts are pari-mutuel, will vary depending on ticket sales and number of winners and will differ from the fixed prizes shown on the Mega Millions website.

This page is updated as soon as possible after the draw. Prize information will be available upon certification of national results.

We make every effort to have accurate winning number information on calottery.com, but mistakes can occur. Refresh your page and look for the draw date when you view winning numbers. If there are any discrepancies, California State laws and California State Lottery regulations prevail. Complete game information and prize claiming instructions are available at all Lottery retailers.

There was no jackpot winner in California for this draw. But there are 47,905 winning tickets! Get your ticket for the next draw.

To see draw results for participating Mega Millions lotteries outside California, search Mega Millions results.

In California, Mega Millions prize amounts are pari-mutuel, will vary depending on ticket sales and number of winners and will differ from the fixed prizes shown on the Mega Millions website.

This page is updated as soon as possible after the draw. Prize information will be available upon certification of national results.

How to claim your prize

Congrats on your win! Follow these easy steps to get the claim process started.

Past Winning Numbers

Last Updated Oct 19, 2022 2:14:01 a.m.

To see draw results for participating Mega Millions lotteries outside California, search Mega Millions results.

In California, MEGA Millions prize amounts are pari-mutuel, will vary depending on ticket sales and number of winners and will differ from the fixed prizes shown on the Mega Millions website.

How to Play Mega Millions

Playing is easy. To learn how, follow the 5 simple steps.

STEP 1

Using a Lottery playslip, which you can find at any Lottery retailer, pick 5 numbers between 1 and 70 and 1 Mega number between 1 and 25. You can also select Quick Pick®, or just ask the cashier for a Mega Millions Quick Pick, and the random number generator will choose the numbers for you.

To play the same numbers for consecutive draws, just mark Advance Play®.

Advance Play allows you to play multiple draws with one purchase.

You can play up to 10 consecutive draws on one playslip by marking the Advance Play box.

STEP 2

Pay $2 per play for each Mega Millions ticket. Your ticket is your receipt. Once it prints, the play cannot be cancelled or refunded.

STEP 3

Know the draw times. Mega Millions draws take place Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. Draw entry closes at 7:45 p.m. on the day of the draw.

STEP 4

Remember that Mega Millions has 9 winning ball combinations. The more numbers on your ticket that match the numbers drawn, the more you win.

STEP 5

Use any of these ways to see if you’re a Mega Millions winner:

Look on the Lottery website for winning numbers and prize amounts.
Download the Lottery mobile app to see winning numbers.
Scan your ticket using the Check-A-Ticket feature on the mobile app.
Use the Check-A-Ticket machine at a Lottery retail location.

Game Odds

Win a prize by just matching the Mega Millions number, or hit it big by matching all 5 numbers, plus the Mega Millions number.

Matching Numbers	Odds 1 in
All 5 of 5 and Mega	302,575,350
All 5 of 5	12,607,306
Any 4 of 5 and Mega	931,001
Any 4 of 5	38,792
Any 3 of 5 and Mega	14,547
Any 3 of 5	606
Any 2 of 5 and Mega	693
Any 1 of 5 and Mega	89
None of 5, only Mega	37
Overall odds of winning	24.0

Each Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million. If there are no winners, it gets even bigger. If there's more than one Grand Prize winner, the jackpot is divided equally among the winners.

MEGA Millions is a multi-state draw game available through 47 lotteries nationwide and known for its big jackpots. Each play costs $2. Mega Millions can be played in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Draws take place Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., and the entry must be made by 7:45 p.m. No sales or ticket validations can take place from 7:45 p.m. to 7:50 p.m., which is when a draw break separates sales during draw periods.

Tickets sold after 7:50 p.m. are ineligible for that night’s draw, but are eligible for the following draw.

Yes. Advance Play, which lets you to play multiple draws with 1 purchase, is available for up to 10 draws (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 10) on the Mega Millions® playslips and Lottery self-service terminals. Each ticket has up to 10 plays printed on it.

Yes. Up to 100 people can make a multiple ownership claim for Powerball®, SuperLotto Plus® and Mega Millions®.

Use any of these ways to see if you’re a draw game winner:

Look on the Lottery website for winning numbers and prize amounts
Download the Lottery mobile app to see winning numbers
Scan tickets using Check-A-Ticket on the mobile app
Use the Check-A-Ticket machine at a Lottery retail location

You’ll receive your prize in 30 graduated annual installments, unless you choose the Cash Option. This is the current cash value of the annuity prize and is paid out in a single cash payment instead of annuity installments. You must select this option within 60 days after the Lottery authorizes payment.

Collect your prize of up to $599 at any participating Lottery retail location.

Collect your prize over $599 at any Lottery District Office or by mail. Bring your winning ticket and a completed Claim Form to a District Office. Pick the Claim Form up at any Lottery retail location, District Office or download the form (PDF).

You have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim your Mega Millions prize. If you’ve won the Mega Millions jackpot, you have up to a year from the date of the draw to claim it.

No. Your winning ticket must be redeemed in the state where it was purchased.

What is the latest time to buy Mega Millions?

What is the cut-off time to purchase Mega Millions tickets on drawing nights? On drawing nights (Tuesday and Friday), wagering closes at 10:45 PM and reopens at 11:15 PM.

Is it too late to buy a Mega Millions ticket?

California Lottery The deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets in California is 7:45 p.m. PT (10:45 p.m. ET) on the day of the drawing.

How late can you play the Mega Ball?

Mega Millions ticket cut off time You can buy Mega Millions tickets right up until 15 minutes before the draw which takes place at 11 pm ET on Tuesday and Friday. So, tickets can be bought until 10:45 pm.

Whats the latest you can buy a lottery ticket?

Sales cut off at least 59 minutes before the draw, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association, which means the absolute latest that tickets can be sold is at 10 p.m. ET. Different states have different rules, however, and some have earlier cut-off times, so it's best to check with your local lottery agency.