Snippet from BBC news on “National Lottery: Why do people still play?”

Since 1994, the Lotto has been a popular game for the public and even with the price of Lotto tickets doubling to £2 in October 2013, players still keep buying more tickets - but what grabs them every time?

Neal Stewart, a professor of psychology at Warwick University believes the slim prospect of a big event can cloud reason.

"It works in the same way with the probability of bad things happening - such as a person's fear of the plane they're flying in crashing" he said. "People believe that rare events are more likely when there is an emotional context to them. They focus on the emotion and don't acknowledge the chances of it happening. If you don't play the lottery you definitely can't win. If you want to indulge the dream you have to have a ticket.”

Do you know family or friends who play Lotto? What makes them keep buying tickets?  Is it a psychological need and desire to continue testing your luck? 

Read more about it on BBC News - National Lottery