The Mega Millions jackpot continues to surge as it reached $333 million for Friday night’s drawing.

A North Carolina winner would have the choice of taking home the $333 million as an annuity or $172.3 million in cash.

“It’s been a great run for jackpots this year and Mega Millions is adding one more to that list,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Good luck this weekend to everyone in North Carolina who will be going after that big prize.”

Even though the jackpot remains up for grabs, North Carolinians are still taking home plenty of prizes. Tuesday night’s drawing had more than 20,000 total winners in the state.

The Mega Millions jackpot has been on a roll since two tickets in Florida and California split a $502 million jackpot in the Oct. 14 drawing. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.

Players can buy Mega Millions tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com, or with the lottery’s app, the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

Ticket sales from draw games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.