While the financial markets may be tense, lottery sales in Illinois are expected to go up for the seventh consecutive year. Besides consistent marketing campaigns, another dynamic may be at play:

“Lottery’s a dollar — it’s like buying a lipstick during a recession versus a whole new outfit,” said Jodie Winnett, acting superintendent.”

So it seems like a small outlay – just a dollar or two – but the odds of winning a major prize are astronomically low. Keep adding up those dollars or two, multiple across thousands of people, and the lottery has rising sales.