[NauticalStu]

Yeah I don't play the lottery, but I could justify buying a single lottery ticket despite understanding how horrific the odds are.

Since you'll almost certainly lose, I think the true value is in the fantasy of what you would do with a staggering amount of money. You could do this without buying a ticket, of course, but it feels more real when you have some skin in the game. Mathematically, your odds are still effectively zero, but mentally there's a big difference between effectively zero and actual zero.

Thinking of other consumables in that general price range that provide a short, quick fix of enjoyment (cup of coffee, snack, etc.), $1 for a slightly more vivid dream isn't so crazy to me.

Having said all this, I highly doubt it's the mentality of most lottery players.