Profitable lottery is a $100 billion industry that draws in tech-savvy players and has startups like Jackpocket fighting for market share. But while a small percentage of players may actually win, most will lose money. And while states may benefit from the money spent on tickets, those profits go mainly to retailers and state government.

While many states use tactics to encourage players, including increasing jackpots and using advertising that skews toward low-income communities, the truth is that winning the lottery will likely make you poorer in the long run. This is because even if the winnings are huge, you’ll be forced to spend more and more as time goes on to keep the money flowing.

Veronica Gillard, 52, is a New Orleans resident who has spent $30 a week on lottery tickets for over 17 years. Her income is less than $10,000 a year, but she’s among the state’s most frequent lottery players. “If it weren’t for my job and the kids, I wouldn’t be able to afford things,” she says. “The kids rely on the money.”

Lottery winners can choose to take their prizes in a lump sum or as an annuity that pays out over time. An annuity typically has a discount rate that companies use to subtract the present value from the total amount, and this is how they make money. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s important to think about how you will spend your winnings and not view them as a replacement for donating or volunteering.