There are reasons why people love Powerball, even if they haven’t won yet.
People certainly love their Powerball games. And despite the countless losses many have already accumulated over the years, they continue to try their luck. So, what’s the allure about Powerball that makes it so fun to play? There are a million reasons why consumers love to play. And there’s a little bit of science to the psychology behind what makes Powerball so popular. Here are five insights as to why people love to play and the psychology behind their motivation.
1. The Larger-than-Life Probability Dynamic
Some psychology professionals suggest that the human brain is a math whiz at calculating everyday probabilities, helping humans make calculated decisions about things. For example, it’s not hard to quickly recognize value at the store when you’re trying to decide between the name-brand paper towels and the generic brand. But Powerball is rooted in huge probability that may be challenging for the brain to compute. Because people have a harder time wrapping their brains around the odds, they’re less likely to consider those odds before buying a Powerball ticket. Most people focus more on the one winning chance, not the several thousands of chances to lose. Like Jim Carey coined in the popular movie, Dumb and Dumber, “so you’re saying there’s a chance.”
2. It’s Their Turn to Win
Powerball players sometimes look to the history of games to convince themselves that it’s their time to win. In a way, some people think it’s going to be their time to win, based on not winning prior. Losing five in a row, for example, might give the impression that the sixth play is surely due for a win. Unfortunately, each Powerball game presents the same odds and doesn’t correlate with past number selections. The odds don’t change based on the numbers previously chosen. But Powerball players love to play because they often feel all those previous losses are getting them one game closer to the big jackpot.
3. People Win All the Time, Right?
Despite the low probability of winning, Powerball players love to play because they always see others winning it big. The media promotes jackpot wins, large and small, highlighting the opportunity of becoming a winner. And even nationwide attention reminds everyone that winning big does happen. Knowing there are always jackpot winners, people are reassured their chances exist as well. Of course, if the news listed the names of every losing Powerball player every week, those reassurances might dissipate.
4. It’s Only a Couple of Bucks Anyway
Playing Powerball is easy to do and is usually affordable for almost every budget. It’s easy to justify dropping a few bucks on a chance at winning millions. The return on the investment would be huge. People love to play because they can quickly grab a ticket while they’re on the go at a local convenience store, and it won’t break the bank to give it a try. It’s only after a player has played for 20+ years, and the ticket investment over time can add up to be a sizable expense. But when you’re able to buy and play on impulse, you’re not thinking about those long-term investments.
5. Close, But No Cigar
Powerball players feel a renewed sense of optimism when they lose, but their number selections appear to be near misses. That one time you chose the number five as your Powerball and the official drawing selected a six can leave you feeling so close to victory. Those scenarios, according to psychology professionals, can create the illusion that next time, you’ll be more likely to get even closer. Of course, each Powerball game’s odds are independent of each other. So predicting an increased likelihood of a number isn’t going to be effective. But having those close calls sure does make it feel like you’re one step closer to a jackpot.
It’s fun to take your chance at a life-changing Powerball jackpot. And people love to play for countless reasons, both conscious and subconscious. One thing’s certain. Regardless of why you play, your chances are greater of becoming a jackpot winner when you play than when you don’t.