Google Play has updated its policies to allow gambling and betting apps in a further 15 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany and the USA. The update will allow app developers to make real-money games, real-money gambling-related in-app ads, and daily fantasy sports apps available on Google Play in the eligible countries. So far, Google has allowed gambling and betting apps in just four countries: Brazil, France, Ireland, and the UK. In particular the latest change has not been applied to India where gambling apps are largely illegal.
The new policies will take effect from 1 March and will apply in 15 countries, namely Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, and Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the US. However, there are certain state restrictions regarding the US.
“We are updating our Real-Money Gambling, Games and Tournaments policy so that more developers around the world can build sustainable businesses, and in a way that helps keep users safe, ”Said Google while announcing the updates to its Play store policies as originally reported by 9to5Google.
It is important to point out that developers releasing a gambling or betting app in any of the eligible countries must go through an application process in advance and do some legal work. This is unlike how developers typically release an app or game on Google Play.
Prior to the new update, Android users in any of the newly eligible countries who wanted to place a gambling or betting app on their phones had to resign because Google did not provide an official channel to the download these apps.
In August 2017, Google Play first released real money gambling apps in the UK, Ireland, and France. Google also allowed access to gambling apps in Brazil – limited to those approved apps published by government bank Caixa Economica Federal.
While Google has expanded the reach of gambling and betting apps to new countries, the update is not relevant for India. Multi-state governments in the country have banned apps that allow users to gamble. Apps including Paytm and Paytm First Games were also temporarily blocked from the Google Play store recently for claiming to allow sports betting and everyday fantasy sports.
That said, Google is simplifying its Play store policies on gamified loyalty programs available through apps in response to the feedback it has received from developers in India and global markets. The special update aims to provide more clarity on policy requirements for publications and loyalty program features, Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy, said in a blog post.
Unlike Google Play, Apple’s App Store has long allowed apps that offer real-money gaming and lotteries in markets where such activities are legal.
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