Normally, we gamble just for fun, but in a place like that, gambling might actually be a way of survival. The odds of turning a small amount into something bigger could seem more appealing compared to just holding onto their money while its value keeps dropping every day.
Or turn it into nothing, which is far worse than the "value keeps dropping every day". I saw articles and videos in the past where people in Venezuela adapted to their situation by either exchanging their local currency for dollars or asking to be paid in dollars, which is far better than risking it on gambling.