Fill 'Er Up, And Give Me A Lottery Ticket Too

USA gas stations already sell lottery tickets in their convenience stores, like this Obama Station in North Columbia. Photo: The State

If you're feeling lucky while filling up your gas tank, you can now buy a lottery ticket right from the pump in California.

Gas pump screens ask if you want to buy a lottery ticket for Mega Millions, Powerball, or Super Lotto Plus games.

Then players are able to choose a game, and swipe an ID to prove their age. If the prize is less than $600, winnings can go straight to a credit or debit card.

TV celebrity Kim Kardashian could add lottery tickets to her gas purchase. Photo: Zimbio 

"It takes like about 30 seconds to actually buy your lottery tickets," California Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez said. "So it's not going to hold up the line."

California driver Julie Exley told KPIX 5 she was behind the idea.

"I think the lottery's a great idea. Not a bad idea. It's one extra way to make some money for the state," she said.

California Lottery spokesman Russ LopezLopez says the state lottery commission has gotten positive feedback from gas station owners who welcome the new business.

They say it would cut down on people waiting in line inside the station's store for other products.

"Statistics show that 72 or 73 percent of people just go out and pump gas, they don't walk into a retail store. So this is another way to capture that business," Lopez said.

The California Lottery approved the pilot program, and it was rolled out to gas stations in the Los Angeles and Sacramento areas starting 2014.