I don’t understand people who WILLINGLY install that shit

The ads are everywhere and the games are often F2P - no barrier to download or install. Excellent for hooking younger kids, especially ones whose parents can't or won't give them access to the old fashioned games.

And unlike gambling at a casino, there’s zero chance of you being up money at any point.

Arguably the singular upside. You can coast in a Gacha game without losing a ton of money a lot longer than you'll last in Vegas.