[omalleyt]

The idea of non-zero-sum games is that a regulator interested in public welfare would still let the two people you described play that "game," and then would be able to tax and redistribute in such a way that both "players" are still better off for having played.

With zero-sum games the habitual loser would eventually wise up and wish to stop playing

[popra]

Not sure I understand your point, in a zero-sum game the third party could still do some redistribution to keep the habitual loser "in the game"

Update: scratch the above, you're right. But in my experience the ones arguing that we're in a non zero-sum game also argue against redistribution.