New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- The move to regulate online gaming makes sense, but the proposal to ban any game with a monetary dimension is a total mistake.

For one, it violates personal liberty and the freedom to pursue a trade or profession of one's choice. The proposed central law would encroach on states' rights as well. It would also set back India's burgeoning gaming industry, which has a minuscule share of the $3 trillion global gaming market.

If accepted, the government's justification for the move - protecting vulnerable individuals from the harmful effects of the activity it proposes to ban - could lead to serious constrictions of personal freedom and endanger a range of businesses from distilleries and motorsports to fast food outlet...