[ska]

Not in a strictly expected value sense, no. It's never going to be a rational choice from an financial point of view (i.e. there is always something else you can do with the $5 with better expected returns).

But if you get some other value out of it you place at least $5/wk utility on, sure. Maybe you get more utility out if it than a movie a month, or whatever.

[lozaning]

I'll buy the occasional $10 scratcher, and then wait like a week to scratch it all off. The $10 is worth getting to ponder what I'll do with my massive windfall for that week!

Already maxing my ROTH and 401K so I figure it's like $80 a year well spent to entertain the phantasy.