i avoid it totally
there's only something like 2 quests that it is involved in, and you can do those quests without playing pazaak anyway.
and its not like you desperately need the credits anyway. most of the good equipment you find or create yourself, not buy. plus you dont even get a lot of money from it anyway
and on a final note, i actually prefer things that need a bit of skill, instead of pure luck. there's just no effort whatsoever required, which makes it rather dull