$1.7 Billion Powerball Jackpot: Last-Minute Ticket Purchases and Drawing Details

A record-breaking Powerball jackpot of $1.7 billion has sparked a frenzy across the country, with the drawing set to take place tonight at 10:59 PM ET. This massive prize is the fourth-largest in US lottery history and has a cash value of $781.3 million. The excitement surrounding the Powerball drawing is reminiscent of the holiday season, with many people coming together to dream big and hope for a brighter future. The jackpot starts at $20 million and grows steadily with each drawing, often taking nearly 40 attempts to reach over $1 billion. So, when can you buy your ticket? While Powerball drawings take place three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, ticket purchase deadlines vary by state. Make sure to check your local time, as cutoffs can range from an hour to several hours before the drawing. Here's a list of state-by-state ticket purchase deadlines: - Arizona: 6:59 p.m. - Arkansas: 8:59 p.m. - California: 7 p.m. - Colorado: 7:30 p.m. - Connecticut: 10 p.m. - Delaware: 9:45 p.m. - District of Columbia: 9:45 p.m. - Florida: 10 p.m. - Georgia: 10 p.m. - Idaho: 7:54 p.m. - Illinois: 9 p.m. - Indiana: 9:58 p.m. - Iowa: 8:59 p.m. - Kansas: 8:59 p.m. - Kentucky: 10 p.m. - Louisiana: 9 p.m. - Maine: 9:50 p.m. - Maryland: 9:59 p.m. - Massachusetts: 9:50 p.m. - Michigan: 9:45 p.m. - Minnesota: 9:00 p.m. - Mississippi: 8:54 p.m. - Missouri: 8:59 p.m. - Montana: 8:00 p.m. - Nebraska: 9:00 p.m. - New Hampshire: 9:50 p.m. - New Jersey: 9:59 p.m. - New Mexico: 8 p.m. - New York: 10 p.m. - North Carolina: 9:59 p.m. - North Dakota: 8:58 p.m. - Ohio: 10 p.m. - Oklahoma: 8:59 p.m. - Oregon: 7 p.m. - Pennsylvania: 9:59 p.m. - Puerto Rico: 10:59 p.m. - Rhode Island: 9:50 p.m. - South Carolina: 9:59 p.m. - South Dakota: 9 p.m. - Tennessee: 9 p.m. - Texas: 9 p.m. - US Virgin Islands: 10 p.m. - Vermont: 9:50 p.m. - Virginia: 10 p.m. - Washington: 6:45 p.m. - West Virginia: 9:59 p.m. - Wisconsin: 9 p.m. - Wyoming: 7:59 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and some airport locations, or digitally through Jackpock. The drawing will be streamed live on the official Powerball website at 10:59 PM ET, and many local TV stations will also air it. A Powerball ticket costs $2, with an optional $1 Power Play add-on that can multiply non-jackpot prizes up to five times (or 10x when the jackpot is under $150 million). The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338, and the odds of matching five white balls are 1 in 11,688,053. If you win, lottery officials advise you to secure your ticket and seek professional guidance before claiming your prize. Remember to enjoy responsibly and only spend what you can afford to lose.