When is next Mega Millions? What time is drawing? How late can you buy tickets? Watch it live

John Connolly, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·4 min read

If you are going to play the Mega Millions lottery, there's some important information you need to know to play.

A lottery player's dreams came true recently in Florida when they won the $1.602 billion jackpot.

The jackpot starts out at $20 million and grows with each drawing that no one wins.

Here's a look at some key things you need to know:

What time is the Mega Millions drawing?

Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

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What is deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets?

The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket varies by state so don't wait until the last minute. It can be 15 minutes to an hour or more before the actual drawing. For some third-party lottery apps, the deadline can be closer to two hours before the drawing. For example, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a deadline of 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. ET drawing

Here's a look at each lotteries' deadline (Note: All times are local for that jurisdiction):

  • Arizona: 6:59 p.m.

  • Arkansas: 9:45 p.m.

  • California: 7:45 p.m.

  • Colorado: 7:30 p.m.

  • Connecticut: 10:45 p.m.

  • Delaware: 9:45 p.m.

  • District of Columbia: 10:45 p.m.

  • Florida: 10 p.m.

  • Georgia: 10:45 p.m.

  • Idaho: 7:55 p.m.

  • Illinois: 9:45 p.m.

  • Indiana: 10:44 p.m.

  • Iowa: 8:59 p.m.

  • Kansas: 8:59 p.m.

  • Kentucky: 10:45 p.m.

  • Louisiana: 9 p.m.

  • Maine: 9:50 p.m.

  • Maryland: 10:45 p.m.

  • Massachusetts: 10:45 p.m.

  • Michigan: 10:45 p.m.

  • Minnesota: 9 p.m.

  • Mississippi: 8:54 p.m.

  • Missouri: 8:59 p.m.

  • Montana: 8 p.m.

  • Nebraska: 9 p.m.

  • New Hampshire: 9:50 p.m.

  • New Jersey: 10:45 p.m.

  • New Mexico: 8:45 p.m.

  • New York: 10 p.m.

  • North Carolina: 10:45 p.m.

  • North Dakota: 8:58 p.m.

  • Ohio: 10:45 p.m.

  • Oklahoma: 8:59 p.m.

  • Oregon: 7 p.m.

  • Pennsylvania: 9:55 p.m.

  • Rhode Island: 9:50 p.m.

  • South Carolina: 10 p.m.

  • South Dakota: 9 p.m.

  • Tennessee: 9 p.m.

  • Texas: 9:45 p.m.

  • Vermont: 9:50 p.m.

  • Virginia: 10:45 p.m.

  • Virgin Islands: 10 p.m.

  • Washington: 7:45 p.m.

  • West Virginia: 9:59 p.m.

  • Wisconsin: 9 p.m.

  • Wyoming: 8 p.m.

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Can I watch the Mega Millions live?

The Mega Millions website does not carry the drawing live like the Powerball, but it does post the video on its YouTube channel following the drawing.

Local broadcast networks may carry the drawing in your area. In the Metro New York area, WABC-TV New York carries the drawing live before the 11 o'clock news and on its website. Click here.

How do I play Mega Millions?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you. You don't need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident a particular state where you purchase your ticket.

More: 'It still doesn’t feel real' - New York man claims $476M Mega Millions jackpot

How many balls do I need to match for Mega Millions prize?

You can win $2 for the matching just one - the Mega Ball. Short of the jackpot, you can win up to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California). You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site here.

Where can I play Mega Millions?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states not offering Mega Millions are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. Many grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores sell lottery tickets. Some states allow Mega Millions tickets to be purchased online, but beware of scam websites. Check with your state lottery for more details.

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What are my odds of winning the lottery?

Playing the Mega Millions can be exciting, but just don't go spending those millions before you win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350-to-1. The odds to match all five white balls are 12,607,306-to-1.

Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What time is the Mega Millions drawing? How late can you buy tickets?