[LordKano]

I play sparingly and it's irrational if you expect to win more than you spend on the tickets.

It's not irrational if you're playing for fun.

The $10 that I spent on PowerBall tickets provided me with much more enjoyment than the $10 that I spent to see The Blair Witch Project.

[Tyr42]

My grandparents consider going to a casino entertainment, and expect to lose the money they go in with. It's fun, and sometimes they fund their next few trips there with the winnings.

[barkingcat]

Irrationality by definition is a big part of fun by the way.

It can be irrational if you're playing for fun!

I think there's some kind of a mistaken association between irrationality and "goodness" - like anything irrational is not good. That is what you are trying to argue against!

[LordKano]

I think that you're misunderstanding the motives of some players.

I fully concede that some people play because they think they're going to win. They had a dream or some charlatan has convinced them that this is their lucky day to play. That kind of thinking is not rational.

People like me, exchange money for entertainment. It's no different than paying to see a movie or to listen to a streaming music service.

It's entertainment, not investment and it's not irrational.