There is nothing wrong with gambling within one's means. Just don't expect to get perennially ahead in playing. If you can afford the scratch off, and you get a dollar's worth of value out of the ticket, by all means play. But, if you are spending money reserved for other things "in hopes of winning it back", chances are good that you are going to take a bath and end up in financial trouble.
Put in perspective, gambling is about as expensive as other entertainment. You spend a dollar on a scratch off. Where else could you have spent that dollar? Perhaps a quick video game (most of them cost a dollar or more these days). The movies are around $7 and up, plus the ripoffs in the concession stands (and you are not allowed to bring in your own food, because they want to protect that profit). Dinner out can easily run you more than $20 a person. A show can cost more than $100, as can tickets at a sporting event. To me, in this light, gambling can actually be competitive with these other activities if you set a strict budget and stick to it no matter what.
