I think OP misunderstood the concept of 'bet only the amount that you can afford to lose', It's not the potential win rather the amount you wager. To give the best understanding, just compare it with spending not with any financial event since gambling is supposed to be an entertainment too so let's compare it with the money you spend on cinema tickets and for bigger amount compare the trip to dreamland (Thai), do you expect the money you spend there to give you any money back, no right then treat the gambling in same way as well.