The Mega Millions game brings a big present for the winning on Christmas Eve with a $970 million jackpot waiting to be delivered.

A winner tonight would wake up Christmas Day with the choice of unwrapping the $970 million jackpot as an annuity or $439.9 million in cash. 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. “If you try your luck on this Christmas Eve jackpot, remember it only takes one ticket to win.”

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million. Here are some other Mega Millions facts and numbers:

• Only one Mega Millions jackpot has been won before on Christmas Eve.
• Thirteen Mega Millions jackpots have been won in December drawings.
• Three Mega Millions jackpots have been won this year. The most recent win occurred in Texas with an $810 million jackpot on Sept. 10.
• 53,117 tickets won prizes in North Carolina in Friday’s 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, www.nclottery.com, or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

Play Smart, Gift Smart is the N.C. Education Lottery's annual campaign highlighting the risks of youth gambling. The campaign raises awareness that popular holiday scratch-offs should only be gifted to adults. In this year’s campaign, North Carolinians can donate school supplies at a lottery claim center, support a good cause, and get a chance to win a prize. Visit NCPlaysmart.com for more information.