The Lottery of life.

All life is a lottery.

In my wallet I have four tickets for the EuroLottery.  You know, the one which would make 100 lucky winners millionaires.  I have them in my wallet because I haven't checked them yet.  I haven't checked them yet, because I know I haven't won. It's not just me though.  When questioned, most people who buy a lottery ticket never expect to win anything.  In scientific terms, normal decision models, based on the premise that most people want to maximise value, mean buying a lottery ticket is irrational.  This is backed up in all sorts of ways.  In the UK, the probability of dying between Monday and Friday is actually greater than the probability of winning the lottery.  Actuaries state that you should buy your ticket on a Friday evening, or, even better, a Saturday morning, so as not to waste a pound in case you die.  I feel this misses the point somewhat.  In an homage to that old saying, "it's not the winning, it's the taking part".  By buying a ticket, there is a thrill, a frisson of excitement, anticipation at the thought of what might be.

If....

The purchase of the ticket allows me to indulge my fantasy of wealth beyond reasonable expectation.  Beyond measure even.  I am paying for pleasure, buying a dream.  The gain, in entertainment value, of the ticket more than outweighs the pecuniary loss, and, therefore the rational, logical imperative to not buy a ticket.  I like the idea that I may have won, more than I like the reality of knowing I haven't.  In many ways, it is much better value to never check the ticket, and maintain the secret pleasure of knowing I might yet be a winner.  In this way, I need never buy another ticket again - so I really will be making myself richer.  Indeed, by checking, and discovering I am a millionaire, I may be doing myself harm. Many big lottery winners confess to being afflicted by anomie, a dislocation from friends, family and life, resulting in alienation, purposelessness and in some cases, suicide.  So, if Camelot announce the fact that there are still unclaimed millions, I may leave it a little while, to savour the possibility. Actually, I know there is a six month limit on claims, but this is months away, so for now, I will keep my ticket, unchecked, in my wallet for a little while longer. But I will check it.  Eventually.  Who knows?  I might be a winner.