Mega Millions players in North Carolina can have fun tonight playing for a jackpot worth almost half a billion dollars.

A winner on Tuesday would have the choice of taking home the $497 million jackpot as an annuity or $229.5 million in cash.

“A jackpot worth nearly half a billion dollars is sure to grab people’s attention,” said Mark Michalko, chief executive officer of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Keep in mind there are nine different ways to win so check your tickets carefully after the drawing. Good luck.”

Even though the jackpot remains up for grabs, players are taking home lots of other prizes playing Mega Millions. Friday’s drawing produced more than 8,900 winning tickets in North Carolina.

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

Anyone buying a Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday’s drawing will also get a second chance to win a prize with that ticket. The lottery’s Mega 2nd Chance drawing, scheduled for Oct. 8, offers a top prize of $100,000, five prizes of $10,000, and 35 prizes of $2,500. To enter, use your Mega Millions ticket purchased at a store or online using the lottery’s website at nclottery.com or the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. The deadline for entries is tonight at 11:59 p.m.

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.

The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program helps North Carolinians make the most of their lottery play. Visit ncplaysmart.com to learn about all things lottery, from tips on how odds work to how to enter bonus drawings.