The Powerball jackpot has reached an estimated $1.3 billion − and, even though you know you're not going to win, chances are, you've at least thought about buying a ticket.
Why?
As with pretty much all lotteries, the chances of winning the current Powerball remain astronomically small − about 1 in 292.2 million. For context, you're more likely to get attacked by a shark, struck by lightning or killed by a vending machine.
You're also more likely to worsen your mental health in the process of playing the lottery, experts have previously told USA TODAY.
"If you're struggling with your bills and you're looking to make the money through buying scratchers or playing the lottery, and you lose that money, it's money that you really can't afford to lose," Steve Kobashigawa, a marriage and family therapist specializing in addiction, previously told USA TODAY. "Of course, it creates more stress, anxiety, depression and it has a very significant impact on mental health."
