Mega Millions jackpot swells to $970M for Christmas Eve drawing

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — Someone could win a huge Christmas gift, as the North Carolina Education Lottery's Mega Millions jackpot is now at $970 million with the Christmas Eve drawing tonight.

A winner tonight would wake up Christmas Day with the choice of the $970 million jackpot as an annuity or $439.9 million in cash, according to a news release. If won, the jackpot would be the seventh largest in Mega Millions history and the largest ever won in the month of December.

“What a life-changing gift a $970 million jackpot would be,” said Terri Rose, chief brand officer for the N.C. Education lottery, in the release. “If you try your luck on this Christmas Eve jackpot, remember it only takes one ticket to win.”

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The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million, the release said.

Here are some other Mega Millions facts and numbers from the N.C. Education Lottery:

• 1 Mega Millions jackpot has been won on Christmas Eve
• 13 Mega Millions jackpots have been won in December drawings
• 3 Mega Millions jackpots have been won this year, with the most recent on Sept. 10 in Texas with an $810 million jackpot
• 53,117 tickets won prizes in North Carolina in the Dec. 20 drawing, ranging from $2 to $20,000...the $20,000 prize went to a $3 Megaplier ticket purchased at the Scotchman on Whiteville Road in Shallotte.
• An estimated $11.8 million has been raised for education from the sales of Mega Millions tickets since the current jackpot run started on Sept. 13

Players can buy Mega Millions tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website or with the N.C. Lottery Official Mobile App.