Google Intends to Expand Real-Money Gaming Apps on the Play Store in India
Google is making some potentially big changes to its Play Store policies in India, and it all boils down to real-money games. It seems like Google is trying to smooth things over with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after some antitrust concerns were raised. Basically, they're proposing to open up the Play Store a bit more to these types of games.
Currently, Google has a pilot program that allows certain real-money games, like daily fantasy sports and rummy, on the Play Store in India. This started after India's Supreme Court classified fantasy sports as "games of skill," which made them legal. However, not everyone was happy with this, feeling it was a bit discriminatory.
So, what's the new plan? Google wants to let pretty much any real-money game onto the Play Store, as long as the developers themselves say it's legal and can prove that some trusted third party has certified it as a "game of skill." These third parties could even be gaming industry groups, which could help give them more credibility.
If the CCI approves this proposal, it could be a win-win situation. For Google, it means a potentially bigger cut of the revenue from these games and their ads. For developers, it offers a chance to reach a wider audience through the Play Store, instead of having to distribute their games through other channels.
What Does This Mean for the Indian Gaming Market?
The real-money gaming market is huge in India. By some estimates, it makes up the vast majority of the country's online gaming revenue. Although that share might decline a bit in the coming years as other types of games become more popular, it's still a significant piece of the pie. So, Google's move could have a real impact on the industry.
However, it's worth remembering that the CCI's investigation into Google's practices is still ongoing. It's not a done deal yet, and there are still some potential hurdles to clear. The watchdog will have to decide if Google has been playing fair in this space. If this proposal approved, Google plans to start allowing these games on the Play Store within a few months, with ad policy changes following shortly after.
The company seems optimistic that it will be approved, emphasizing the potential benefits for Indian developers and the digital economy. What I think about this is that its a very smart move from Google to try and ease things up with the indian regulators, while still being able to benefit from it.
Source: TechCrunch