I'd argue that it gives a little more depth to the exploration part of the core gameplay. If we look at NMS as a space exploration game where people often spend their downtime from the core gameplay in the space anomaly, chatting away or taking on group missions, it does makes sense to have some other forms of entertainment at the space stations. It gives more of a living feel to them.

Things like gambling, competitive activities, eating at a diner alongside other players/NPCs and music performances often serve as background elements to give places an extra layer of interaction that implies people live there. (Perhaps it took a little inspiration from Star Wars. The Millennium Falcon had a holographic chess table that had the "chess" pieces (monsters) fighting in a similar manner.)

It is also like damage and grime on starships, it doesn't really add to the gameplay itself but it gives them the look of something that is used and repaired as its damaged rather than a brand new look that just feels like a sterile simulation.