What Is the Luckiest Time to Buy a Lottery Ticket?

By Dunja Radonic

Last Updated: February 14, 2023

We all fantasize about being fortunate enough to win the lottery in a stroke of good luck. We often wonder when is the best time to buy lottery tickets to increase our chances of winning. Waiting for the stars to align is one way to go about it, but we can also look at statistical evidence of when to play the lottery. Let’s dive right into it!

Statistically Speaking, When Is the Luckiest Time to Buy a Lottery Ticket?

For some, Powerball is a lighthearted game of luck and a favorite pastime. With that said, some people play the lottery to win. Most have to consider three main factors: when to buy lottery tickets, what numbers to play, and how much money to put down. The statistics show that choosing lucky numbers or lottery buying times does not affect your odds. Sometimes there can be no lottery winners for months. Just the same, in January 2023 alone, there were four jackpots, which is the first time something like that happened! According to Harvard professor Dr. Mark Glickman, there is no ideal time to buy lotto tickets as every drawing is independent. The statistics expert explains that your odds are not subject to change even if you’ve won the jackpot before. So, it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve already won — your chances will be the same each time.

When and Where Should You Buy Lottery Tickets?

Many ask, does it matter where you buy lottery tickets? The answer is yes, but for practical reasons — it has nothing to do with strategy or superstition. Every state has a different taxation process for the winnings, and in some states, you aren’t able to claim the money anonymously. For some people, this can be a problem. In addition, the latest time to buy lottery tickets differs from state to state. If you want to know the exact deadline, you will have to check your local selling jurisdiction. Typically, the latest time to get a lottery ticket is an hour before the drawing. And for those wondering if it is better to buy separate lottery tickets, the winning probability does increase if you buy more tickets for each game, according to Dr. Glickman. However, the odds increase so slightly that it doesn’t really change anything. If you believe in luck and keep wondering when is the best time to play the lottery, just follow your instincts and play it by ear.

Play for Fun

Now and again, we all get a hunch that it’s time to buy lottery tickets. While hitting the jackpot would give us our dream life without us having to put in any significant effort. However, statistics tell us we shouldn’t take the lottery too seriously and play it just for fun. Sources: