The Mega Millions jackpot just crossed a milestone as players in North Carolina can try for a $306 million jackpot this weekend.

A winner in Friday’s drawing would have the choice of taking home the $306 million jackpot as an annuity or $143.8 million in cash.

“We would love to see a lucky North Carolinian win the jackpot tonight,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “When players try their luck at winning big jackpots like this, they are also helping raise money for education programs in the state.”

Check out how North Carolinians win when they play Mega Millions:

• 15,654: That’s the total number of winning tickets in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing
• $4 million: That’s the estimate of how much money has been raised for education during the current Mega Millions run

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 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 NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

For details on how money raised by the lottery makes a difference for education programs in all 100 North Carolina counties, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.