Some people choose gambling to alleviate their poverty, while others, even if they are not poor, hope to win more through gambling. Gamblers who are too desperate to win end up losing instead of winning. Gambling is not for the purpose of earning money but for fun. Gamblers understand this truth, but when they lose everything.
The fact that people are paid for winning then it is not out of place to see gamblers hoping that gambling can help them escape from poverty. However, even in their quest to escape poverty through gambling, t is very important not to be desperate because as you mentioned and rightly too, gamblers who are too desperate to win end of losing more than necessary.
The reason for the above is the fact that they may not make concerted effort to really make calculated decisions before placing a bet.