Javed Anwer slams the recent ban on real-money gaming platforms like Dream11 and My11Circle as both “thoughtless and hypocritical” not because the government's concerns are invalid, but because the move concentrates on banning desire rather than managing it. He draws a vivid parallel: in the early days of stock markets such as during the infamous South Sea Bubble markets were essentially gambling dens, indistinguishable from betting. What sets today’s financial markets apart is regulation, not moral superiority. Markets may still be “an infinite game of chance,” but safeguards keep them from sliding into anarchy.

A blunt ban isn’t the solution, Anwer argues. Just as regulation tempers financial markets, the gaming sector could be regulated to allow safe, transparent play preserving livelihoods while mitigating harm. The ban’s abruptness overlooks context and nuance, undermining both consumers and the economy. Why punish desire when it can be guided rather than suppressed? Anwer’s answer: informed policy and oversight not a ban hammer serve the public better.