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Google Play Allows Fantasy Sports And Rummy Apps In India

Google has just announced that a limited-period pilot will be initiated to allow real-money games like Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and rummy apps to be available on Google’s PlayStore. This is in lieu of the rising popularity of real-money games in the country.

The move by Google is expected to give a massive boost to the real money gaming companies in India. Why? Well, real-money gaming (RMG) apps account for a majority of their revenue in the country. About 51 percent of the overall gaming industry revenue comes from real money gaming apps which reached $1.8 billion in the financial year of 2020, as per reports by gaming and interactive media venture fund Lumikai and consulting firm Redseer.

So far, the RMG industry has given rise to three unicorns, they are Dream11, Mobile Premier League, and Games 24×7. These games were obtained from third party source as they were not allowed on Google PlayStore, until now.

According to the announcement made by Google, the pilot run will start from 28th September and will give permission to DFS and rummy apps from developers to make their apps available during this time. However, the app distribution will be limited only to India for now and the apps are not allowed to use Google’s in-app billing or be available as a paid app on the app store. In the past, Google has faced backlash from Indian developers due to the mandatory integration of its Play billing system.

The announcement has also drawn in the attention of the country’s antitrust body Competition Commission of India which believes that this kind of policy is unfair as it restricts app developers from selecting a payment processing system of their own choosing.

A spokesperson from Google commented, “We are constantly exploring ways for local developers to build successful businesses and offer delightful experiences on Google Play. Through this pilot program, we are taking a measured approach that will help us collate learnings and retain an enjoyable and safe experience for our users.”

Rules For Compliance

To be able to participate in the pilot, developers will have to complete and submit an application form and comply with the terms and conditions of the program along with all Google Play policies. This includes following all local laws and regulations and holding mandatory licenses and permits where required. Developers will also have to ensure the app is accessible to only users over 18 years of age (with PAN Card verification) and inaccessible in states where the game is currently banned under local law. States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have either banned or are on the fence about bans over real-money games in the past year.

The developers are also required to provide users with customer support and redressal mechanisms. Google also noted that it will review the applications and notify eligible applicants within seven business days.

For more news and updates, keep reading Gutshot Magazine. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram.

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