The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to $1.22 billion as ticket sales soar ahead of Friday’s drawing. The jackpot has grown steadily after a $1 billion drawing on Christmas Eve that had no jackpot win.

Lottery on Christmas Day Officials said the estimated top prize was a gigantic $1.15 billionwith a cash option of $516.1 million, but that number has since increased.

“Ticket sales are going through the roof,” a Mega Millions spokesperson told CBS News, adding that once a jackpot reaches that level, there is often a corresponding increase in ticket sales.

When does the Mega Millions drawing take place?

The next drawing of the $1.22 billion jackpot will take place on Friday at 11:00 p.m. ET.

The cash option for winners who receive a lump sum payout is now $549.7 million – an increase of $33.6 million from a few days ago, the spokesman said.

Winners can claim either the cash payout or the $1.22 billion annuity paid out over 30 years if a winning jackpot ticket is drawn.

Only three Mega Millions jackpots were won this year – the fewest in any year since the game’s inception. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

A Mega Millions spokesman said winners are possible at all prize levels, even if there is no jackpot winner. On Christmas Eve there were four tickets corresponding to the five white balls for the game’s second prize. They were sold in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

If someone wins, it would be the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. (All totals are before taxes.)

The top Mega Millions jackpots:

Courtesy of Mega Millions

Aliza Chasan and Brian Dakss contributed to this report.