What Time is the Mega Millions Drawing? Days, Times, and Deadlines
Mega Millions is one of America’s biggest lottery games, with jackpots that often reach hundreds of millions of dollars. Knowing the drawing schedule is key to playing. If you buy your ticket too late, you will have to wait for the next drawing. The drawings happen twice a week. They take place on Tuesday and Friday nights. The official time for the drawing is 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Official Mega Millions Drawing Schedule
The Mega Millions drawing is held at the same time every week, no matter the size of the jackpot. The entire process is managed by the Georgia Lottery at a television studio in Atlanta.
The balls are drawn at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesdays and Fridays. This time is the same for every state that participates in the game.
Here is what that time means for other parts of the country:
- Eastern Time Zone: 11:00 p.m. (New York, Florida, North Carolina)
- Central Time Zone: 10:00 p.m. (Texas, Illinois, Louisiana)
- Mountain Time Zone: 9:00 p.m. (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona)
- Pacific Time Zone: 8:00 p.m. (California, Washington, Oregon)
The schedule is consistent. There are two drawings every single week of the year.
When Do They Stop Selling Mega Millions Tickets?
This is the most important rule for players. You cannot buy a ticket right up until the drawing time. Every state lottery has its own deadline for ticket sales. This cutoff is usually about 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing.
After the cutoff, the lottery systems take a short break. This is called a “draw break.” It allows them to process all the sales data before the numbers are drawn. Sales for the next drawing typically resume a few minutes after the current drawing is complete.
The ticket cutoff time is different in every state. You must check with your local state lottery to find the exact deadline.
Here are a few examples of state cutoff times:
- Texas: In Texas, you must buy your ticket by 9:45 p.m. Central Time. The lottery then televises the drawing at 10:12 p.m. CT.
- North Carolina: The deadline for buying a ticket at a retail store is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time. If you are playing online, the cutoff is slightly earlier at 10:43 p.m. ET.
- New Mexico: Ticket sales end at 8:45 p.m. Mountain Time. This is 15 minutes before the 9:00 p.m. MT drawing time.
Always confirm the deadline in your state. If you buy a ticket after the cutoff, it will be for the next drawing.
How to Check the Winning Numbers
After the balls are drawn in Atlanta, the results are sent to all participating states for certification. You have several ways to find the winning numbers.
- The Official Mega Millions Website: The fastest way to get the numbers is at MegaMillions.com. The winning numbers are posted there just a few minutes after the drawing. You can also watch a video of the actual drawing on the website.
- Your State Lottery’s Website: Every state lottery will post the results on its own website. They also have information on how many people won prizes in your state.
- Local News: Many local television stations announce the winning numbers during their late-night news broadcasts. Major news outlets also publish the results online.
It usually takes about 90 minutes after the drawing for the full prize results to be certified and made available.
How to Play Mega Millions Now: The New $5 Ticket
The rules for Mega Millions changed in April 2025. The game is a little different now.
- Ticket Price: Each Mega Millions ticket now costs $5 per play.
- Automatic Multiplier: The “Megaplier” feature is now included with every ticket. You no longer have to pay extra for it. The Megaplier multiplies all non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10 times.
- How to Play: You still pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one gold Mega Ball number from 1 to 24. To win the jackpot, you must match all six numbers.
The jackpot starts at a minimum of $50 million. It grows every time no one wins, which is how it reaches such massive amounts.
Key Mega Millions Times to Remember
Here is a quick summary of the important schedule details.
- Drawing Days: Tuesday and Friday.
- Drawing Time: 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Ticket Deadline: Varies by state. Always check your local lottery’s rules to avoid missing out.
- Results: The winning numbers are available online shortly after 11:00 p.m. ET.
Mega Millions offers a chance at life-changing money twice a week. By understanding the schedule and your state’s cutoff time, you can be sure you are in the game.
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