Zona de Azar USA – Google to Expand Support for Real-Money Games on Play Store

USA.- January 16th 2024 www.zonadeazar.com Google revealed on Friday that it intends to increase support for real-money games (RMG) on the Play Store this year by permitting a wider range of games in the category, complying with local laws.

The tech giant announced that the extended support program for real-money gaming will commence in India, Brazil, and Mexico in June, with plans for a global rollout in the future.

Google is also exploring a new service fee model for subscriptions and in-app purchases. However, specific details about the developer’s share were not disclosed.

“With this policy update, we will also be evolving our service fee model for RMG to reflect the value 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 various developer earning models of this industry,” stated Karan Gambhir, Director of Global Trust & Safety Partnerships at Google.

Traditionally, Google has allowed real-money gaming apps within the framework of local regulations for a specific type. The updated policy will now permit more types of real-money gaming apps that are legal but not regulated.

Google initiated efforts to include real-money gaming apps on the Play Store in 2021. In 2022, a pilot project was launched in India to allow fantasy sports and Rummy apps on the local Play Store. The latest announcement provides a grace period until June 30 for the pilot apps, which received an extension until January 15 last year.

In 2020, Google removed Paytm’s app from the Play Store due to newly introduced fantasy sports elements. The pilot project also involved regulations for age verification and ID verification. A similar pilot project was launched in Mexico last November, extending until June 30. Afterward, developers will be allowed to publish their real-money gaming apps on the Play Store beyond fantasy sports categories.

Google stated that detailed policies regarding the change will be published in the coming months, incorporating safeguards such as age limits and geo-restrictions.

The introduction of a new service fee for real-money games will play a crucial role in Google Play Store’s revenue, particularly amid global scrutiny to allow developers to use alternative payment methods. The company typically provides a 4% discount on service fees under its user-choice billing program, which was piloted in 2022 and still involves select partners.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com