IMO the main difference is that insurance provides two good outcomes while gambling only one. So you're buying car insurance. There are two outcomes: either yo

IMO the main difference is that insurance provides two good outcomes while gambling only one. So you're buying car insurance. There are two outcomes: either your car will survive another year or you'll crash. First outcome: you're happy because you've got a survived car. Second outcome: you're happy because you've got insurance payout. Now you're buying lottery ticket. First outcome: you won the lottery and you've got the prize. Second outcome: you didn't win the lottery and you lost your money spent on lottery ticket.