The Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with players hoping to win millions of dollars in prize money. In Colorado, residents can purchase Powerball tickets up until a certain cut off time before the draw takes place. Knowing the Powerball sales cut off time in Colorado is important for players who want to get their tickets in before it’s too late.
What is Powerball?
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association. It is played in 45 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To play, players select five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. Prizes are awarded for matching at least two numbers, with the jackpot going to players who match all six numbers.
Powerball drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. The minimum jackpot starts at $40 million, and continues to roll over if there is no grand prize winner. Jackpots can climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars before a winning ticket is sold.
When is the Powerball Cut Off Time in Colorado?
In Colorado, the cut off time for Powerball ticket sales is 7:59 p.m. MT on the night of the drawing. Ticket sales end almost 3 hours before the actual drawing takes place at 9:59 p.m. MT.
So on draw nights, players in Colorado must purchase their Powerball tickets by 7:59 p.m. to be eligible for that night’s drawing. Tickets bought after the cut off point will be for the next drawing.
Why is there a Powerball Cut Off Time?
Every state has a cut off time for Powerball ticket sales before drawings. This serves a couple of purposes:
- It allows time for all ticket sales to be processed and entries finalized before the drawing happens.
- It prevents late entries after some numbers have already been drawn.
- It allows lottery officials to estimate and announce the size of the jackpot before the drawing.
Having a pre-drawing cut off time ensures that Powerball drawings can go ahead fairly and efficiently in all participating states.
Can you buy tickets after the cutoff time in Colorado?
No, Powerball ticket sales are completely halted in Colorado after 7:59 p.m. MT on draw nights. The lottery terminals prevent any ticket sales after this time. So any player hoping to sneak in a last minute entry will be out of luck.
The lottery terminals are programmed to stop printing tickets precisely at the 7:59 p.m. deadline in Colorado. Retailers are unable to override the system to continue selling tickets after cut off.
What happens if you are in line before the cutoff?
Since long lines often form in the lead up to the Powerball sales cutoff time, lottery rules in Colorado allow those who are standing in line before 7:59 p.m. MT to still buy tickets after the deadline. This is an exception to the general cutoff rule.
As long as you are physically waiting in line at a lottery retailer before 7:59 p.m. on the night of the draw, you will be permitted to purchase tickets for that draw after the deadline passes. This policy ensures fairness for players who rushed to get tickets before cutoff.
Where can you buy Powerball tickets in Colorado?
There are over 3,000 authorized lottery retailers across Colorado selling Powerball tickets. These include grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, convenience stores and smoke shops. You can find a full list of locations selling Colorado lottery tickets on the state lottery website.
Here are some of the most popular places to buy Powerball tickets before the cutoff in Colorado:
- 7-Eleven
- King Soopers
- Safeway
- Circle K
- Kum & Go
- Walmart
- Albertsons
Remember to locate a lottery retailer in advance and plan your ticket purchase before the 7:59 p.m. MT Powerball sales cutoff time. The cutoff applies statewide, so all authorized Colorado retailers must abide by the same deadline.
Can you buy tickets online in Colorado?
No, Colorado does not currently allow online sales of Powerball tickets through the state lottery. All ticket purchases must be made in person at authorized lottery retailers. There are some third-party courier services that will purchase tickets on your behalf, for a fee.
Since you cannot buy Powerball tickets over the internet in Colorado, you must ensure you make it to a physical retailer before cutoff on draw nights. Purchasing online is not an option to beat the sales deadline.
Key Points
- Powerball ticket sales end at 7:59 p.m. MT in Colorado on draw nights
- The cutoff time applies statewide across all retailers
- Tickets cannot be purchased after the deadline – lottery terminals prevent further sales
- You can buy tickets after cutoff if you were already in line before 7:59 p.m.
- There are over 3,000 retailers selling Powerball tickets in Colorado
- Online ticket sales are not available from the Colorado Lottery
The Cutoff Time in Other States
While the Powerball cutoff in Colorado is 7:59 p.m., other states have varying sales deadlines depending on their local lottery laws. Here is a look at some other Powerball ticket cutoff times around the country:
| State | Cutoff Time |
|---|---|
| California | 7:00 p.m. PT |
| Texas | 9:00 p.m. CT |
| New York | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| Florida | 9:50 p.m. ET |
| Pennsylvania | 9:59 p.m. ET |
As you can see, cutoff times range anywhere from 7:00 p.m. to right before the 10:59 p.m. ET drawing. It’s important to check your local state’s Powerball rules to ensure you buy tickets before sales end for the night.
Recent Colorado Powerball Winners
While the odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9, some lucky Colorado players have hit it big:
- November 2022: $1 million prize won in Blende
- August 2022: $50,000 prize won in Sterling
- July 2022: $2 million prize won in Johnstown
- June 2022: $1 million prize won in Aurora
- May 2022: $150,000 prize won in Denver
The last Powerball jackpot winner in Colorado was back in April 2018, when a $128.1 million prize was claimed. The overall odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
How to Play the Powerball in Colorado
Playing the Powerball in Colorado before the cutoff time is easy:
- Pick five main numbers between 1-69.
- Pick one Powerball number between 1-26.
- Purchase a $2 Powerball ticket before 7:59 p.m. MT in Colorado.
- Watch the drawing at 9:59 p.m. MT to check your numbers.
- Match all six numbers to win the jackpot!
You can also add special features like Power Play to increase your non-jackpot winnings for an extra $1 per play. Good luck!
Purchasing Tickets at High Volume Retailers before Cutoff
With the Powerball fever reaching a peak for big jackpots, lines at popular retailers can often get very long leading up to the ticket cutoff time. High volume locations like King Soopers or Safeway often see a rush of customers in the final hours before sales end at 7:59 p.m. MT.
Here are some tips for ensuring you can get your Powerball tickets before cutoff at busy Colorado retailers:
- Arrive early – Don’t wait until the last 30 minutes before trying to buy tickets, as you may get stuck in a long line.
- Consider less busy locations – Try a smaller gas station or liquor store to avoid huge lines.
- Ask which cashier sells lottery tickets – Get directed straight to the right place without waiting in the wrong line.
- Know exactly what you want to buy – Don’t hold up sales figuring out number picks while in line.
- Have your payment ready – Get your cash, debit card or credit card out so you don’t fumble at checkout.
If lines are extremely long, don’t panic. Just hop into the queue before 7:59 p.m. MT and you should still have time to make your purchase, even if it’s a few minutes past the official cutoff.
Mistakes to Avoid Before the Powerball Cutoff in Colorado
To ensure your Powerball ticket purchase goes smoothly before the 7:59 p.m. MT cutoff in Colorado, avoid these common mistakes:
- Waiting until the last minute – Give yourself plenty of buffer time in case lines are long.
- Forgetting your wallet – Nothing worse than finally reaching the counter and realizing you can’t pay!
- Playing quick pick – If machines are running slow you could miss the cutoff waiting for a quick pick ticket to print.
- Not checking ticket accuracy – Verify your numbers and ticket details before leaving the store.
- Forgetting the cutoff time – Know exactly when ticket sales end so you don’t miss it.
- Buying from an unauthorized retailer – Make sure you purchase from a licensed Colorado lottery sales agent.
- Assuming you can buy online – Remember all Colorado ticket sales must be in person.
Changes to Powerball Beginning in August 2021
In August 2021, Powerball implemented some changes to the game structure and odds. Here are the key changes Colorado players should know about:
- The number of main balls was increased from 59 to 69, making the odds of winning the jackpot harder.
- The Powerball pool decreased from 35 to 26 numbers.
- Overall odds of winning any prize improved from 1 in 24.9 to 1 in 24.8.
- Jackpots will start at $20 million (previously $40 million).
- Maximum jackpot is now $680 million (previously $590 million).
- Prize payouts were adjusted across all levels.
- Power Play add-on can now multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10X.
These changes made the game harder to win overall, leading to bigger and faster-growing jackpots. But the better overall odds of winning any prize help offset the long shot odds of hitting the jackpot.
How the Powerball Changes Affect Colorado Players
For Colorado lottery players, the 2021 Powerball changes mainly mean that the jackpots will be bigger when ticket cutoff time comes around. The odds are now more stacked against hitting the jackpot, which will allow the top prize to roll over more frequently.
With jackpots starting at $20 million and maxing out at $680 million, Colorado players can expect some massive, record-breaking top prizes under the new game rules. Even smaller secondary prizes are likely to grow with quicker jackpot rollovers.
When Colorado lottery retailers hit the ticket cutoff time for these giant Powerball jackpots, sales will surge with the enhanced public interest. Lines could be even longer than usual in the lead up to the 7:59 p.m. MT deadline.
Overall, Colorado players stand to win bigger Powerball prizes than ever before. But they need to be mindful of ticket cutoff times for their chance at these jackpots, as the long odds make late entries extremely risky.
Conclusion
Keeping on top of the Powerball ticket cutoff time in Colorado is essential for lottery players in the state. Sales end at 7:59 p.m. MT on draw nights across all retailers, so don’t miss your chance to play.
Be aware that large jackpots can create long lines leading up to cutoff. Give yourself plenty of time to buy tickets, look for less busy stores if needed, and get in line before the deadline. Avoid common mistakes like waiting until the last minute or forgetting your wallet.
With Powerball mania sweeping Colorado when jackpots are high, getting to the counter before ticket sales stop can require strategy and planning. But with potential millions in prize money on the line, beating the Powerball cutoff is well worth the effort for lottery hopefuls!
