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We are back for a second time in January 2024 with a special edition to announce an exciting new development regarding Google Play’s real-money gaming policy! We discuss the recent blog post by Google announcing a slew of changes, and clarify the implications of this announcement for India’s vibrant pay-to-play gaming sector.
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- In September 2022, Google Play launched a limited-time pilot program for the distribution of only two categories of RMGs (daily fantasy sports and Rummy) to users in India. This program ended in September 2023, after which no new RMGs could be listed for Indian users. Based on the successful response to this program, in a blog post
by its Director of Global Trust and Safety Partnerships,
Karan Gambhir
, published on 11 January 2024, Google announced that the Google Play store will start supporting more kinds of RMGs this year (tentatively from July 2024), including game types and operators not covered by an existing licensing framework in India.
- It should be noted that while the Ministry for Electronics and Information Technology had earlier notified new rules
under the Information Technology Act, 2000 in April 2023 to regulate online RMGs, the enforcement of these rules has been indefinitely delayed. However, the new RMG policy for Google Play will not be dependent on the enforcement of these rules for the listing of RMG games in India.
- Apart from India, the expanded RMG support will be rolled out in Mexico and Brazil, with more countries to follow suit in the near future!
- Google Play will also be introducing changes to their service fee model for RMGs to help sustain the Google Play ecosystem while also reflecting the unique business models of RMG developers. These new changes will also coincide with a renewed focus on user safety and transparency through age-gating mechanisms, geo-gating of RMGs within their legal scope of operation, and expanded developer verification mechanisms. We eagerly await future updates from Google on these exciting changes in the coming months, and will keep you promptly informed about the latest developments in this regard, as they emerge!
Though complete information on the official policy referenced in this announcement are yet to be published, we have provided a few initial clarifications concerning the announcement:
- What is the primary motivation behind Google Play's decision to expand support for real-money gaming (RMG) apps? Google Play aims to keep up with developer innovation while promoting user safety. The decision is based on the positive feedback from users and developers participating in previous pilot programs for RMGs on Google Play, and has the potential to open new business opportunities for developers globally.
- When will the expanded support for RMG apps be launched, and in which countries will it initially be available? The expanded RMG support is set to launch after 30th June 2024. Initially, it will be available for developers and users in India, Mexico, and Brazil, with plans to expand to more countries in the future.
- What changes can developers in India expect if they were part of the earlier Google Play Pilot Program for DFS and Rummy apps? The grace period for pilot apps listed in India on Google Play has been extended until June 30, 2024. After this date, developers can distribute RMG apps on Google Play to users in India, beyond DFS and Rummy, in compliance with local laws and the updated policy.
- How will Google Play ensure user safety in the context of real-money gaming? Existing developer policies supporting user safety, such as age-gating to limit RMG experiences to adults and geo-gating to offer RMG apps only where legal, remain unchanged. Google Play will continue to strengthen these policies and maintain other key user safety and transparency efforts, such as developer verification. The exact nature of these requirements will be provided once the official policy change is rolled out.
- Are there any changes to Google Play’s service fee model for real-money gaming, and how is Google Play working with developers in this regard? Yes, the service fee model for RMGs will evolve to reflect what Google has termed as ‘the value Google Play provides and sustain the Android and Play ecosystems.’ Google has stated that it is working closely with developers to ensure the new approach aligns with the unique economics and various earning models of the RMG industry. Further details on the service fee model are expected to be shared in the coming months.
The All India Gaming Federation is the apex industry body for online gaming in India. Being the oldest, largest and the most diverse industry association for online gaming, AIGF’s overarching vision is the growth of the Indian online gaming ecosystem in an open, safe, and accountable manner, and making online gaming a cornerstone of Digital India. At AIGF we want to support and push the vision of Create in India and have the Indian gaming industry compete globally. Find out more about us?here
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