North Carolinians can try their luck on two big jackpots this weekend as the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots total more than $1.5 billion.

Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot just got a $15 million boost and now stands at $980 million. That ranks as the eighth largest jackpot in the history of the game. A winner would have the choice of taking home the $980 million jackpot as an annuity or $452.2 million in cash.

A winner in Saturday’s Powerball drawing would have the choice of taking home the $546 million jackpot as an annuity or $255 million in cash.

Even though the jackpots remain up for grabs, players are taking home other prizes playing Mega Millions. Tuesday’s drawing saw multiple big wins in North Carolina:

• One lucky ticket with a 2X multiplier matched four white balls and the yellow Mega Ball to win $20,000. The ticket came from S.P. Food Mart on Lawndale Drive in Greensboro.
• Another lucky ticket with a 3X multiplier matched four white balls and the yellow Mega Ball to win $30,000. The ticket came from Online Play in Raleigh.
“We have seen nice wins recently for both Mega Millions and Powerball players,” said Terri Rose, chief brand officer of the N.C. Education Lottery. “It would be great to see a jackpot win in North Carolina this weekend. Good luck.”

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290 million. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

Players can buy Mega Millions or Powerball 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 lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.