As the name suggests, these apps allow players to bet and win real money in games. Essentially, it's gambling. Some categories of real-money gaming apps include casino games, lotteries, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports. Real-money games come with a full set of warnings about addiction.
Google has stated that the program to support real-money gaming on the Play Store will begin in India, Brazil, and Mexico in June 2024. The search giant plans to expand the program to more countries in the future, but this schedule has not been shared yet.
Furthermore, Google is also planning to implement a service fee model for subscriptions and in-app purchases for real-money gaming. However, the company has not yet disclosed details about the fee structure, its share in revenue, or any related program policies.
The implementation of a service fee in real-money games is set to play a crucial role in contributing to the revenue of the Google Play Store. This change comes at a time when the company is under global scrutiny for its stance on allowing developers to use alternative payment methods.
"With this policy update, we will also be evolving our service fee model for real-money games to reflect the value that Google Play provides and to help sustain the Android and Play ecosystems. We are working closely with developers to ensure our new approach reflects the unique economics and diverse earnings models of developers in this industry," says Karan Gambhir, Director of Global Trust and Safety Partnerships at Google.
Previously, while betting houses offered mobile apps since 2021, they could only be obtained in APK format directly from betting sites, posing security risks due to potential malicious attacks.
However, Google will continue to enforce policies to ensure that gaming and betting apps comply with the licensing standards of government agencies, based on the current legislation in each country regarding gaming.
To make an app available, each developer will have to submit an online application to Google and provide clear information about "responsible gaming," as well as indicate the "Adults Only" rating.
Initially, permission for new downloads will be granted in countries like Brazil, Mexico, and India, with the possibility of expansion to other territories later.
Google explained that this "new approach" to supporting more operators and types of real-money games was introduced in a statement on the Android developers' blog. Additionally, the company assured that this measure was carefully evaluated during the one-year experimental period with Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS).
The company emphasized its goal of providing "new business opportunities to developers worldwide," including game titles not covered by an existing licensing framework.
Source: GMB
