Lottery tickets being popular stocking stuffer gift ideas

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For those of you looking for a creative gift idea, lottery tickets may be right gift to slip in the stocking.

ABC 57 spoke with gas stations across the community, and found that ticket sales are up 40 percent.

One cashier saw many people coming in buying a lot of tickets for gifts.

"We’re pretty busy,” said Terrica Ramnauth.”Everyone is coming in requesting holiday tickets to give out for gift cards, and to put inside cards for presents, so it's more frequent than it used to be throughout the year."

The estimated jackpot for Friday's mega million drawing is $173 million. It's not too late to buy a ticket, the drawing is at 11 p.m.