Lottery is a game where participants wager a small amount of money in the hope of winning a larger prize. The prize may be cash, goods or services. Many states conduct a lottery and it is also common for private companies to offer a lottery. Some states regulate the games while others outlaw them.

The odds of winning are infinitesimal, but lottery marketers rely on the idea that people will feel good about buying tickets even if they don’t win. “Lottery marketing campaigns expertly capitalize on fear of missing out—FOMO,” says Adam Ortman, a Denver-based consumer psychologist and founder of Kinetic319. Often, advertisements include narratives of past winners and their newfound wealth that tap into aspirations.

In addition, state lotteries are usually marketed as a way to raise revenue for the government and social safety nets. But it’s unclear how much that revenue actually helps the state and whether it’s worth the trade-off of people losing money.

Regardless, many people continue to play the lottery. They believe it’s a fun activity that makes them happy and keeps them from getting bored. In addition, they often find that if they choose to receive their winnings in a lump sum instead of annuity payments, the total will be closer to what is advertised, thanks to compound interest. Some people also use strategies to increase their odds, though those won’t likely improve their chances by very much. But if it feels like everyone else is playing, why not join them?