MSN Money - Why poor people win the lottery

Maybe it’s because “the heaviest lottery players… disproportionately are low-income, minority men who have less than a college education”. The people who can least afford to play are the ones playing the most.

The article’s advice to players?

Play only if you can afford it, and play only for fun.

“If you’re playing because you think you’re gonna get rich, then don’t play.”

You’re better off investing the money you would use on lottery tickets in a bank account or retirement fund.

But if you’re going to play, the article has tips on how to play smart. Still, probably the smartest thing to do is not play at all. Your chance of winning is extremely small, and even if you do win, you could end up less happy and with more problems than before.