I did a similar thing last year playing MM when the jackpot was high. The cut-off time was 10:45 PM and handed the clerk at a drive-thru ten play slips with 46 combinations around 10:40. When I looked at the tickets, 6 of them were for that nights drawing and the other 4 were for the next drawing. I had played all 46 bonus numbers and got lucky when the number drawn that night was among the 30 combos I had for that nights drawing and none of the other 16 combos would have won.

Whether it's asking for QPs or handing the clerk play slips, we are asking for tickets in the next drawing and the cut-off time is determined by the lottery terminal not by my watch, cell phone or the clock on the wall. I would have been sick if the winning numbers were for the wrong drawing but the fault would be mine for waiting too long.

Here in Ontario there is a 10 minute draw shut down from 9 PM to 9:10 PM, I am surprised that Loto-Quebec does not have this since Super 7 is a national game.  The rules set out by ILC should be the same in each lottery jurisdiction.  Interesting.   

"Current: Sales end 8:59:59, next sales begin at 9:00:00.

With Break: Sales end at 8:59:59, next sales begin at 9:05:00."

That may be a possibility, but it's just as likely that sales would stop 5 minutes sooner. Any way they do it some players will complain. Cry me a river, but it's the players' fault if they can't buy their tickets at a time that let's them get what they want.

If this case makes it to a jury, they're going to consider intent.  Was this guy trying to cheat the lottery getting a ticket in just after the draw, or was he simply trying to buy his tickets an hour before the draw and the system delay did him in. 

If I ever came that close, I can't see not taking the shot to collect. 

Of course the real winner will likely also have to file suit to collect the full amount of the prize if the court awards this guy half. 

I've been on both sides of this with ebay drawings, where I've gotten my bid in 30 seconds before the deadline and times when I've been outbid ten seconds before the deadline where dialup delay keeps me from getting one more bid in.  Not like you can sue ebay to make them give you that prized item.

BobP