>I agree that the odds are against you. But, people win at the lottery every day.

Of course, if nobody won, they wouldn't be able to sell any :). But, the total of the money given for prizes is less than the money paid for the tickets - else they wouldn't even try to organize it.

>I think there is one factor that we haven't discussed: The Enjoyment Factor. Some people like to gamble. It might cost them some money, but it provides them with a fair return on that money with entertainment.

Of course - and that's only as far as I'd go. Spend an amount you'd have paid for a good lunch you had to skip, and have some fun. A colleague of mine had the same fun for free - he fixed eight combinations on a lotto, and tracked what would happen in a year if he had paid for them. He said he'd end up with two heart attacks and 6-month salary :). I think he was wiser - he had all the fun for free.