I have learned that when a government prohibits something in particular it is because that activity will produce improvements for the population or for some in particular, and they always want to have control of everything, so they are not fair measures, governments manipulate and only want the best for themselves, that is the reality, that they do not say it is another thing.
I don't think that's the thing for them in most times. If they are only wanting to take care of their citizens and they think that banning is one way for them to ease the addiction that their people are experiencing, I won't think of them as something like what you've said.
They are at least have the care for their people and that's why they're making some policies that could either make people follow or be against with the majority.
While it cannot solve the entire problem. But, I don't think that it's the very solution that they need to have for their people to stop gambling.