This holiday week Powerball players in North Carolina can have fun, be merry, and play for the fourth largest Powerball jackpot of all time with a $1.6 billion prize available in tonight’s drawing.

A winner on Monday could claim the jackpot as a $1.6 billion annuity or $735.3 million in cash. The jackpot ranks as the fourth largest Powerball jackpot and fifth largest among U.S. lottery jackpots.

Saturday’s Powerball drawing saw multiple big wins in North Carolina:
• A $3 Power Play ticket purchased at the Gates Food Mart on U.S. 158 in Gatesville won $150,000 when the 3X multiplier came up.
• A $3 Power Play ticket purchased at the 7-Eleven on Caratoke Highway in Moyock won $150,000 when the 3X multiplier came up.
• A $3 Power Play ticket purchased at the Harris Teeter on South Tryon Street in Charlotte won $150,000 when the 3X multiplier came up.
• A $2 ticket bought using Online Play in Wilson won $50,000.
• A $2 ticket bought at Charlotte’s Landing on Express Drive in Charlotte won $50,000.

Saturday’s big wins made it nine straight Powerball drawings with North Carolinians winning prizes of at least $50,000 and seven straight with at least a $100,000 winner.

“What a remarkable run for Powerball players in North Carolina winning big in nine straight drawings,” said Mark Michalko, chief executive officer of the N.C. Education Lottery. “We all have our fingers crossed that we make it 10 straight tonight with a jackpot win. Good luck.”

The $1.6 billion prize is the second-largest Powerball jackpot this year, trailing only the $1.7 billion jackpot won Sept. 6 in Missouri and Texas.

Players can buy Powerball tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website or NC Lottery Official Mobile App. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

For details on how lottery funds make a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.