How often do you keep casino tab open just because there might be a rain coming soon?

Waiting for a
golden rain?

I’ve never tried to
catch the rain on gambling sites.
Its usually a few cents or maybe dollar in some lucky cases
Well, of course, who would go around handing out large sums of money to everyone, just like that?
but somehow you end up checking chat every 10 mins... that's it, you are on the hook.
That is the whole point of this an undertaking: to keep a gambler’s attention on a specific site for as long as possible. In fact, every online platform (not just in the gambling sector) pursues the same goal, since user attention is the primary "commodity" these days.
are these actually 'generous' rewards for community or just another clever way to keep people on the site longer?
An act of generosity? Are you trying to be funny?

A business (gambling) whose goal is to make a profit is never just going to hand out money for nothing. Of course, it’s a lure, the whole point is to hook a user with a couple of cents (or dollars), draw them into a "trap of attention", and compel them to place a bet. That’s business - no generosity involved.
cause lets be honest, the longer you sit there watching other people play the more tempting it gets to place another bet yourself...
Exactly. The rain’s purpose is to draw you into a game.
And another layer question - do you actually enjoy hanging out in chats with others or are you just waiting for the next free drop?
These things can be combined.