Google is set to boost its support for real-money gaming (RMG) operators in India by allowing a wider range of game types on its Play Store, as announced on Friday. Karan Gambhir, Director of Global Trust and Safety Partnerships at Google, shared that based on the positive feedback from users and developers during a year-long pilot program, Google Play will start supporting more RMG apps in June, encompassing game types and operators not covered by an existing licensing framework.
The pilot program, initiated in September 2022, focused on daily fantasy sports (DFS) and rummy apps for Indian users, signaling a shift in Google’s stance towards fantasy gaming apps in the country. Unicorns in this sector include Dream11, Games24x7 (operator of RummyCircle), and My11Circle, collectively claiming 8.5-13 crore users on each platform.
Gambhir stated, “It also enables developers currently participating in RMG pilots in India and Mexico to continue offering their apps on Play.” The grace period for pilot apps to remain on Google Play has been extended until June 30, after which the new policy will take effect, allowing developers to distribute RMG apps on Google Play, complying with local laws and the updated policy.
Google also plans to evolve its service fee model for real-money games, taking into account the unique economics and various developer earning models in the industry. More details about the new policy and future expansion plans will be shared in the coming months.
Industry Response and Concerns: While the change in Google’s stance has been welcomed, concerns were raised about the exclusion of real-money skill games, apart from Rummy and fantasy games. Industry stakeholders found this exclusion “discriminatory,” and Google’s latest move to broaden its support for diverse game types may alleviate these concerns.
