“Lotto” draws happen at different times depending on the country and specific game, so there is no single universal draw time.

Typical big-jackpot draw times

  • Powerball (USA) is usually drawn on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights around 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Mega Millions (USA) is usually drawn on Tuesday and Friday nights around 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Many state or regional lotto games (for example in Idaho, Ohio, California) have evening draws between about 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. local time.

Why it varies

  • Each national or state lottery sets its own schedule, so “when the lotto is drawn” depends on where you play and which game (Lotto, Powerball, Mega Millions, etc.).
  • Some places also run mid-day draws or multiple daily draws for smaller games like Pick 3 or Pick 4.

How to find your exact time

  • Check your local lottery’s official website and look for a “draw schedule” or “draw games” page; it will list days and exact times for each game.
  • If you are in a specific country (e.g., New Zealand, South Africa, or a particular U.S. state), search “ lotto draw times” to get the precise schedule for your location.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.