Google looks to revamp Play Store and Ads policy to allow real-money gaming apps in India

In a significant move, Google has unveiled plans to revamp its Play Store and advertising guidelines in India, with the objective of allowing a wider range of real-money gaming (RMG) applications. This initiative is part of Google's strategy to address an ongoing antitrust investigation initiated by the Indian gaming platform WinZO, as detailed in a public notice from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) dated July 31. The proposal, which Google has submitted as a "commitment" under India's antitrust regulations, is currently available for public consultation. According to the CCI's announcement, the tech giant intends to replace its restricted pilot program from 2022 with a more comprehensive framework. This new approach would permit all real-money games that developers declare as legally compliant with Indian law. However, developers will need to provide validation from an “authoritative third-party” to ensure their app qualifies as a skill-based game. Reports from TechCrunch indicate that Google has proposed that industry organizations, such as the All India Gaming Federation, E-Gaming Federation, and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, could act as validators in this process. This initiative comes in response to a legal challenge by WinZO, which alleged that Google’s previous pilot program, limited to daily fantasy sports and rummy, unfairly discriminated against other RMG genres. In November 2023, the CCI formally initiated an investigation into Google's practices. A spokesperson from Google expressed that this proposal is a reflection of the company's ongoing engagement with the CCI and the Indian developer community. "We’re pleased the CCI is market testing our proposed framework for real-money games (RMGs) in India," the spokesperson stated. They emphasized that this step demonstrates a commitment to fostering a more open and secure environment for RMG apps across Google Play and Google Ads. Furthermore, Google aims to revise its Developer Programme Policies and investigate appropriate business models to better support Indian RMG developers. The company also plans to allow advertising for real-money gaming applications across its platforms, provided these games are validated as skill-based by recognized third-party entities. Google's spokesperson added, "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the CCI and the broader RMG ecosystem, confident that our proposed framework will empower Indian developers, stimulate the digital economy, and prioritize user safety." The CCI has opened the floor for public feedback on this proposal until August 15, 2025, after which it will determine whether to accept Google's commitments.