If you really think about it, there are an extraordinary number of life's situations that can be inherently risky. Nearly everything someone does is some type of gambling. Even with such mundane act of getting up and going to work, increases one's probability of being killed in a transportation accident. In face of today and everything you know about investing, be it in business, an asset class (stocks, bonds, real estate, cash and commodities), or index fund, even in its most basic element, it's nothing but "betting" that someday tomorrow will probably be better with pleasant expected returns on investment; or perhaps not. There is just one big risk you should avoid and that's the risk of doing nothing and not taking your chance.

Come to look-at it in face value, trusted lottery dealer investing in any money market really is, legalized gambling, per se.