Real-money gambling apps on the Google Play Store are only allowed in the UK, Ireland, France and Brazil. But things are changing.
Starting March 1, 2021, Google said that an additional 15 countries will be added. They include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.
But before app developers can have the green light, each country will have its own limitations on what kind of online gambling is legal.
For example, some countries allow certain type of gambling, while some others are more restrictive.
To make sure that developers know what to do, Google’s support page specifies four gambling categories including online casino games, lotteries, sports betting and daily fantasy sports.
Related: 'Loot Boxes' In Games Are Considered A Form Of Gambling, Said UK Committee
Given the “sensitive nature” of gambling and betting, developers have to complete a Google Play application process.
They also have to meet other requirements before their Android apps can appear on Google Play Store in the added countries:
- Developer must successfully complete the application process in order to distribute the app on Play.
- App must comply with all applicable laws and industry standards for each country in which it is distributed.
- Developer must have a valid gambling license for each country in which the app is distributed.
- App must prevent under-age users from gambling in the app.
- App must prevent use from countries not covered by the developer-provided gambling license.
- App must NOT be purchasable as a paid app on Google Play, nor use Google Play In-app Billing.
- App must be free to download and install from the Store.
- App must be rated AO (Adult Only) or IARC equivalent.
- App and its app listing must clearly display information about responsible gambling..
Google warns how “attempts to bypass the certification process” and “repeated or serious violations” will result in full removal of apps.
If that isn't complicated enough, there is another exception: most of the newly added countries only permit government-run lottery apps.
For example, most countries only allow lotteries if they’re run by the government. In the U.S., regulations vary from state to state.
Previously, those who want download gambling apps on Android had to download the APK files directly from the gambling service's website, or sideload it from third-party app stores, a practice that Google has been discouraging more and more as time goes on.
With the change from Google, users are having a safer way to download the apps in many more countries.
While the change should make a lot of gamblers happy, it could be argued that a lot of games and apps on Google Play Store already include sorts of gambling mechanics. These include loot boxes, for example.
Back in 2019, Google started considering loot boxes as a form of gambling, and started requiring game developers to set a target audience for their apps, and apps that target children must follow its family policies.