I'm not sure which part you're responding to there.

If it's that he states the reason as you quote? A point being that he was lured to buy tickets by some other more base desire, yes perhaps an irrational feeling that he would win, but that for a person in his position the admittance of that could be difficult, a personal cost of face.

Kinda like the old saying you buy Penthouse for the articles?

Pure speculation but then his side is self-promoted anecdote so I reckon it's all even. Just shooting my mouth off though probably.