Google has decided to halt its planned expansion of the Real Money Games (RMG) framework on the Play Store, which was initially announced in early 2024.
In January, Google informed app developers of its “new approach to Real Money Games”, intending to extend the RMG Play Store framework to include markets in India, Mexico, and Brazil, provided the apps met “user safety criteria.”
This decision was supported by “positive feedback” from developers involved in RMG pilot programs in these markets, where RMG apps remain unlicensed.
Google justified its new approach as a way to provide “new business opportunities for developers globally, while continuing to prioritize user safety.”
In January, Google also announced an extension of the grace period for Indian DFS and Rummy apps to remain on the Play Store until June 30, 2024, when the new approach was supposed to be implemented.
However, over the weekend, Google confirmed a global pause on the RMG policy change, stating: “Expanding our support for real-money gaming apps in markets without a central licensing structure has proven more challenging than expected, and we need additional time to get this right for our developer partners and the safety of our users.”
Despite this pause, Google has indefinitely extended the grace period for RMG apps in India, ensuring that existing apps offering DFS and Rummy games can remain on Play and users can continue to access them.
In 2024, India’s gaming sector faces uncertainty as companies and developers adjust to the 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on RMG revenue introduced in October 2023. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has promised a review of GST taxes “six months after implementation”, but the Modi government has yet to release an agenda.
In Brazil, stakeholders are waiting for the Betting and Prize Secretariat (SPA) to finalize regulations on safer gambling, market conduct, crime prevention, and advertising duties, which are crucial for launching a federal sports betting market by 2024.
Google will closely monitor developments in each market to help its developer community build safe and secure apps for local audiences.
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