As an avid Powerball player in Texas, it‘s essential to know exactly when the Powerball drawings take place in order to play. This comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about Powerball draw times in Texas, how to purchase tickets, watch the drawings live, claim prizes, and tips to boost your odds of winning.
What Time Can You Buy Powerball Tickets in Texas?
In Person Purchases
Powerball tickets can be purchased in person at over 18,500 Texas Lottery retailers across the state including convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and more up until 8:00 PM Central Time on draw nights. With so many retailers selling tickets, you should have multiple options close to home. Just be sure to get there with enough time before the sales cutoff.
According to the Texas Lottery Commission, more than $8.1 billion in lottery ticket sales occurred at retailer locations during fiscal year 2022. So don‘t miss out on participating in the action!
Online and Mobile App Purchases
Purchasing Powerball tickets online via the Texas Lottery website or mobile app is extremely convenient, letting you play anytime and anywhere in Texas until 8:00 PM CT.
As of August 2022, the Texas Lottery reported over 11.7 million registered members for online play. Over $1.3 billion in ticket sales were made online in FY 2022.
Here are step-by-step instructions to purchase Powerball tickets online or via mobile app:
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Visit txlottery.org or download the Texas Lottery App on Google Play or Apple App Store.
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Create an account or log in to your existing account. You must be located in Texas to play.
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Click "Play Powerball" and choose your numbers manually or select Quick Pick.
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Select the number of draws you want to play and any other options like Power Play.
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Add tickets to your cart and complete the checkout process.
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Confirm your ticket purchase is complete before 8:00 PM CT!
Purchasing online takes just a few minutes. Just give yourself enough time to buy before ticket sales end at 8:00 PM on draw nights.
Subscription Purchases
You can also set up a subscription for Powerball through the Texas Lottery website or mobile app. This allows you to automatically purchase tickets for future draws on a schedule you define.
Subscriptions offer an easy, hassle-free way to play Powerball consistently without having to remember to buy tickets every time. However, subscription purchases still must be completed by 8:00 PM CT to count for that night‘s drawing.
What Time Does the Powerball Drawing Take Place?
The Powerball drawing occurs every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:12 PM CT. This is when the winning 5 white ball numbers (from 1-69) and the Powerball (from 1-26) are randomly selected.
According to Multi-State Lottery Association drawings procedures, prior to each drawing two sets of ball sets are inspected, tested, and certified by independent auditors. The balls are checked for size, weight, roundness and number distribution.
On drawing nights, the entire drawing process is recorded from start to finish. Security measures are in place to ensure total randomness in the selection of the winning numbers.
Once all five white balls have been drawn, the Powerball is drawn using a separate machine. The drawn numbers are then verified and announced to the public.
Millions of Powerball players eagerly await the 10:12 PM CT drawing time on Wednesday and Saturday nights to see if their tickets are winners. Will you match enough numbers to share in the next big jackpot?
How to Watch the Powerball Drawing in Texas
When the clock strikes 10:12 PM CT, you‘ll want to tune in to the Powerball drawing to watch the winning numbers be selected live. Here are the ways you can view the drawing in Texas:
Texas Lottery Website
The Texas Lottery website txlottery.org provides a live stream of every Powerball drawing online. The drawings are also archived on the website to replay.
Over 1.9 million unique visitors browsed the Texas Lottery website each month during fiscal year 2022 according to the Texas Lottery Commission. Watching online is a popular choice!
Television Broadcast
Local television stations throughout Texas broadcast the live Powerball drawing at 10:12 PM CT on draw nights. Check your local TV listings to find the channel.
Some of the stations that may air the drawing include KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth, KPRC in Houston, KSAT in San Antonio, and KVUE in Austin. Tune in to catch all the action.
Social Media
The Texas Lottery Facebook and Twitter pages offer a Facebook Live and Twitter Live stream of the Powerball drawing on draw nights.
As of August 2022, the Texas Lottery had over 735,000 Facebook followers and over 131,000 Twitter followers. Social media offers a convenient way to watch.
Mobile App Streaming
The official Texas Lottery App lets you watch the Powerball drawing live on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.
The free app has been downloaded over 1 million times and has over 270,000 active users per month according to recent data. Just log in to view the stream.
Be sure to use one of these viewing options at 10:12 PM CT on Wednesdays and Saturdays to catch the exciting live Powerball drawing!
Powerball Prize Tiers and Odds of Winning
Match the five white balls and red Powerball in any order to win the jackpot prize. But you can actually win a total of 9 ways playing Powerball in Texas:
| Prize Tier | Odds of Winning | Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Match 5+PB | 1 in 292,201,338 | Jackpot |
| Match 5 | 1 in 11,688,053 | $1 Million |
| Match 4+PB | 1 in 913,129 | $50,000 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 36,525 | $100 |
| Match 3+PB | 1 in 14,494 | $100 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 579 | $7 |
| Match 2+PB | 1 in 701 | $7 |
| Match 1+PB | 1 in 91 | $4 |
| Match PB | 1 in 38 | $4 |
The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9. As you can see, even matching just the Powerball itself scores you a $4 prize.
With jackpots starting at a guaranteed $40 million and often climbing into the hundreds of millions before a winner, Powerball offers incredible prize potential!
Notable Recent Powerball Jackpot Wins in Texas
There have been some truly massive jackpot wins in the Lone Star State:
$1.586 Billion Jackpot Split in 2016
In January 2016, the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot was split three ways, with one of the winning tickets sold in Chino Hills, California. However, one of the other two jackpot winning tickets worth $528.8 million was purchased in Princeton, Texas at a 7-Eleven.
The winners opted for the cash value payout of $327.8 million. At the time, it was the largest jackpot ever won in Texas and the 2nd biggest Powerball prize in the country.
$55.6 Million Jackpot Won by Texas Nurse in 2017
An ICU nurse from Valley View claimed a $55.6 million Powerball jackpot in June 2017, the 8th largest prize in Texas Lottery history.
The lucky winner bought her Quick Pick ticket from Albertsons in North Richland Hills. After federal and state taxes, she took home over $25 million.
$150 Million Jackpot Won in 2021
In September 2021, a Powerball ticket sold in Humble matched all 5 white balls and the Powerball to win a $150 million jackpot.
The winner opted for the lump sum cash option, netting over $108 million after taxes. It was the first Powerball jackpot won in Texas since 2016.
These are just a few examples demonstrating that playing consistently offers the chance at huge multimillion dollar prizes!
How to Claim Powerball Prizes in Texas
Here are the steps to properly claim your Powerball winnings in Texas:
1. Sign the Winning Ticket
Immediately sign your winning Powerball ticket after checking your numbers. This establishes ownership. If unsigned and lost or stolen, anyone can claim the prize.
2. Visit a Texas Lottery Claim Center
You must claim prizes in person at one of the 6 Texas Lottery claim centers located in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie and Houston. Find a claim center location nearest you.
3. Bring Identification and SS Card/ITIN
Have a valid photo ID and your Social Security card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) ready when visiting the claim center.
4. Complete and Sign the Claim Form
Fill out the claim form at the center with your contact and bank account details. Sign your winning ticket again in front of Lottery officials.
5. Wait for Your Check
For prizes under $599, you‘ll receive a check right away at the claim center. Jackpot prizes can take 4-12 weeks for payment processing after claiming.
Remember, you have 180 days from the draw date to claim, so don‘t wait too long! Signing up for a Texas Lottery Players Club account can help keep track of potential prizes.
10 Expert Tips for Playing Powerball in Texas
Use these pro tips from an avid Texas lottery player to boost your Powerball odds and strategy:
1. Buy Early to Avoid the Sales Cutoff
Give yourself enough time to purchase tickets before the 8:00 PM CT deadline on draw nights. Waiting until the last minute can make you miss out.
2. Take Advantage of Advance Play
You can play up to 10 consecutive future Powerball draws in advance using the Advance Play feature online or in person. This locks in your numbers.
3. Join a Lottery Pool
Join forces with other players by forming a lottery pool or club. This lets you buy more number combinations at a lower individual cost. But get a binding legal agreement in writing first!
4. Use Birthdates for Your Picks
Since all numbers have an equal chance of being drawn, use sentimental numbers like birth months or anniversaries which will make winning extra special.
5. Mix Up Your Number Selections
Avoid only playing one set of favorite numbers. Mix up your picks to increase your odds across a wider range of combinations.
6. Take Advantage of Replays
If nobody wins the jackpot, lottery officials pick a new Powerball number in a seperate replay drawing for another chance to match all 5 + PB.
7. Check Old Tickets Before They Expire
Don‘t forget to check any losing Powerball tickets against the recent winning numbers. You have 180 days from the draw date to claim a prize.
8. Use the Mobile App to Scan Tickets
Use the Texas Lottery App ticket scanner to instantly check for winners. It even notifies you if you win something. Super handy!
9. Sign Up for Account Notifications
When you create an account online, opt-in to receive winning number notifications and important account alerts. This way you‘ll never miss a prize.
10. Have Fun and Play Responsibly
Only play Powerball with entertainment money you can afford to lose. But remember – you can‘t win if you don‘t play!
Using these tips can maximize your Powerball experience. Who knows, you may just win a massive jackpot!
Common Powerball Questions
How much do Powerball tickets cost?
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play. You can add on the Power Play multiplier for an extra $1 per play when purchasing to increase non-jackpot prizes.
What happens if someone wins during a replay?
If a replay drawing is held due to no jackpot winner and someone matches all six numbers, they will share the jackpot equally with the winner of the original drawing.
What is the biggest Powerball jackpot ever?
The current record Powerball jackpot is $1.586 billion, won in January 2016 and shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee.
Has anyone won Powerball twice?
Incredibly, some players have won the Powerball jackpot more than once. The luckiest was an 82-year old man from Wisconsin who won $316 million in 2006 and $217 million in 2008.
Do Quick Picks have worse odds?
No, the odds of winning are exactly the same for Quick Pick numbers generated by the lottery computer versus player-selected numbers. Many huge jackpots have been won with Quick Picks.
I hope this comprehensive guide to Powerball draw times in Texas provides helpful insights into exactly when the drawings take place, how to play smart, and tips for winning a prize. With jackpots frequently climbing into the hundreds of millions, a life-changing win could be just one ticket away!
