The chances of you winning are astronomically low. That's why success stories are so amazing

(I will refrain from telling the mother of success stories, but if you have a way to ask me out of this forum I will tell you, but I will still censor out names...censor names? you mean this story has to do with people I know???)

I don't play the lottery. I don't think the lottery is a scam because I seriously associate the word 'scam' with 'government intervention' (what other definition is there? seriously, indulge me). Say you were PG walking down the street in Toronto and some guy talks to you asking if you want to buy a computer. Would you buy it, or would your BS detector go off? If it did, does it mandate government interference? Or would you just not buy from the guy? Yeah. That's what I did.

I see the same thing in lotteries. You almost are certain not to win, and people will give me every excuse under the sun. Statistically you'll end up losing money in the long run. I see them like slot machines - if you ever profit in slots you better cash out, because you won't win. I don't play slot machines, but people win all the time. Same with lottery:

A teacher at work won the 10mil lottery once
My friends have won some nice money in slot machines - enough to subsidize their entertainment expenses.

Does this justify playing? nah. Should you play? I'd say no, but I won't complain if you did. You might even win.