This is why vaccine lottery prizes may work for some, according to psychology experts

What's so enticing about a chance to win big that's prompting unvaccinated people in Ohio to get the shot?

Maryland drew a winner for its first $40,000 vaccine lottery prize Tuesday, kicking off 40 days of drawings meant to encourage state residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The campaign, called VaxCash, will automatically enter vaccinated Marylanders into daily $40,000 lotteries from May 25 until July 4, when a $400,000 prize will be randomly awarded. To be eligible, residents must have received the vaccine in the state and be 18 years old or older. While states like Delaware, New York and Kentucky have instituted their own versions of cash lotteries to incentivize people to get vaccinated, the idea was popularized in Ohio, where vaccination rates jumped 33% the week after the state announced its $1 million Vax-a-Million lottery, according to an Associated Press analysis. "This dramatic increase in vaccinations indicates that the Vax-a-Million drawing has been impactful in creating momentum for vaccinations throughout Ohio," Stephanie McCloud, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said in a statement. In recent weeks, states and municipalities have encouraged people to get vaccinated with a slew of incentives, including free concerts, pizza, beer and cash. But unlike free pizza, winning the lottery isn't guaranteed. So what's so enticing about a chance to win big that's prompted unvaccinated people in Ohio to get the shot?