When you buy a lottery ticket, you’re buying the chance to win a small prize. The odds of winning are infinitesimal, but it’s a cheap price to pay to fantasize about what you could do with a big jackpot. Lottery marketers expertly capitalize on this “fear of missing out,” or FOMO, explains Adam Ortman, a Denver-based consumer psychologist and founder of Kinetic319, an advertising agency.

Lottery revenues have grown in the post-World War II era, but they haven’t grown as quickly as state governments’ needs for additional revenue have increased. As the revenues from the traditional games have flattened, the lottery industry has diversified into new products such as video poker and keno. It also has aggressively promoted itself through television commercials.

Unlike other government revenues, lottery funds are not dependent on the overall fiscal health of a state. In fact, state lottery programs have gained broad public approval during times of economic stress, even when they are arguing that their proceeds will benefit specific public goods such as education.

As with any form of gambling, lottery participation is a personal choice. But before you consider playing, it’s important to think through your decision and be aware of any danger signs. Then, if you do decide to play, make sure you have an exit strategy in place and keep the habit within a reasonable amount of your income. This way, you can enjoy the fun while keeping yourself from becoming an addict or letting it derail your financial security.