For around the price of a cup of coffee, you can buy a lottery ticket. So why not? Someone has to win, and if you don’t take your chance, who will? That’s the feeling behind lottery marketing campaigns, which expertly capitalize on fear of missing out — FOMO.

Lottery organizers promote the idea that winning the jackpot would be a great way to improve your lifestyle. They portray it as a minimal investment with potentially massive returns and tap into our aspirational desires to live the good life. They use narratives of previous winners and the idea that a little luck could drastically improve your circumstances to make the gamble seem both feasible and life-changing.

But there are real problems with this strategy. First, it doesn’t take into account that the lottery is gambling. Even if you are not playing for the big jackpot, the odds of winning are low. Second, it’s regressive. Studies show that most lottery players come from middle-income neighborhoods and far fewer proportionally represent the poor or high-income neighborhoods.

Finally, the compulsion to play can be very difficult to overcome, especially if you spend a lot of money on tickets. So before you decide to buy, review your finances and make sure you can afford it. And if you do win, consider taking the lump sum rather than an annual payout. This will reduce the amount of taxes you owe. And, as always, if you’re worried about addiction, seek professional help.