Pretty much the nature of all gambling outfits, right? The game is rigged for the house to win and in this game, the house is the taxation agencies.
Your point is spot on.
But you’re a total buzz kill.
Well, once you understand that the bet is a “losing proposition”, you are free then to enjoy the “thrill”.
You know, people will pay $5 to step into a batting cage and hit a ball. They will never get that money back. But they might get to hit a baseball a few times, and if they enjoy it, that is money well spent.
A lot of people will play the lottery, because it will be “fun” to pick a number, and watch to see if that number wins. So they are paying for the enjoyment.
That shouldn’t be a buzzkill.