The gambling instinct

The meteoric rise of fantasy gaming platforms like Dream11, with its staggering revenue of Rs 6,400 crore in FY23, reveals something fundamental about human nature. These gaming apps have masterfully tapped into our inherent gambling instinct while carefully navigating India's legal landscape by positioning themselves as "games of skill." This distinction - skill versus chance - is crucial yet increasingly blurred in today's financial landscape. It is fascinating how this same gambling impulse manifests in supposedly sophisticated financial markets. The explosive growth of Futures and Options (F&O) trading among retail investors mirrors the gaming app phenomenon. Both activities offer the same psychological cocktail: the thrill of potential quick gains, the dopamine rush of a win, and the "just one more try" mentality after a loss. Both wrap themselves in a veneer of expertise and skill while primarily operating on chance for most participants. Suggested read: India's gambling ind