The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night has climbed to the 6th largest ever in the history of the game, offering a lucky winner $635 million.

The jackpot continues to grow as more and more players across the nation buy tickets and try their luck at winning it.

On Friday, Powerball announced the new $635 million jackpot for Saturday’s drawing, taking it up $15 million more than the day before. It is not only the 6th largest for the Powerball game, but it now ranks as the 10th largest in U.S. lottery history.

A winner would have the choice of taking the jackpot as the $635 million annuity or as a cash payment of $450 million.

As North Carolinians have tried to win the jackpot, they have been winning other big prizes. In Wednesday’s drawing, three tickets sold in North Carolina won $50,000. The lucky tickets were sold at the Speedway on Virginia Road in Edenton, at the Quality Mart on N.C. 68 North in Oak Ridge in Guilford County, and at the Duck Thru Food Store on U.S. 158 in Camden.

“Some people may be playing Powerball for the first time, so we want to make sure those folks know to check their tickets closely because there are nine ways to win,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Seeing the jackpot this high is what makes the Powerball game exciting. Still, play smart. You only need one ticket to win.”

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

In August, Powerball began offering a third weekly drawing on Monday nights. Drawings are also held Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Players can buy Powerball through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com, with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App, or at any lottery retail location.

Ticket sales from draw games such as Powerball help make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million a year for education. 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.