In 2010 combined US state lottery revenue was $53.095 Billion, with payouts of $32.783 Billion (61.7%), before taxing that those payouts heavily at the state and federal level. Yet the lottery grows in popularity and is one of the most recession-proof businesses. Every time I'm at a gas station or convenience store some 50+ person in front of me is buying scratch cards. At times I feel as though I'm intruding on a casino with the demeanor and number of lottery players in the average convenience store.
Now, crypto can fulfill the same needs for risk and adrenaline/hope of making it big as a lottery and also it has a much better payout rate over the long term (zero-sum rather than 61.7% pre-tax).