Comment by united893

I used to do the same. Told my mom to buy that ticket, and explained to her she was wrong. And that made her sad to realize.

She buys the tickets because she enjoys the pleasure of forward predictions: what will she do with the money. Go to the bahamas, buy a villa. Relax.

That forward projection means dopamine and norephedrine release -- similar to taking a drug. She enjoys that pleasure that's why she buys it.