Today, Google Play announced an upcoming policy change that will allow gambling and betting Android apps in more countries. These applications are currently only available in four stores around the world.

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At the moment, “real money gambling apps” are only available in the Brazilian, Irish, French, and UK Play Stores. They include online casino games, lotteries, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports.

Previously, those on Android downloaded an APK directly from a gambling service’s website and sideloaded. There are inherent risks involved with this method, and today’s move provides a safer path for users in many more countries.

Google Gambling Application

We’re updating our Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests policy so more developers around the world can build sustainable businesses, and in a way that helps keep consumers safe.

Starting on March 1, developers can make gambling and betting apps available in 15 more countries:

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United States

In a statement, DraftKings said that it would bring its Sportsbook & Casino app to the US when the new Play Store policy goes into effect. Broadly, there are state-by-state limitations:

Online casino games (permitted in Delaware, Nevada (poker only), New Jersey, and Pennsylvania)

Sports betting (permitted in Colorado, District of Columbia (governmental operators only), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Montana (governmental operators only), Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon (governmental operators only), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia)

Lotteries (state-run operators or affiliated contracted operators only in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia)

Depending on the state, daily fantasy sports may be regulated as gambling in the U.S, and all daily fantasy sports apps published in the United States are subject to the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Apps requirements below.

Given the “sensitive nature” of gambling and betting, developers have to complete a Google Play application process and meet other requirements before their Android apps appear:

  • 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 or state/territory in which the app is distributed

Google Gambling Application Software

Applications are to be rated “Adult Only” and “prevent under-age users from using.” Additionally, users not in an approved state/territory must be prevented from accessing. The app has to be free to download and not use the Google Play In-app Billing system.

Google warns how “attempts to bypass the certification process” and “repeated or serious violations” will result in full removal of apps.

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Aussies do like a wager, and those who use Android will soon find it easier to get an app for their favourite service. Google has announced overnight that they begin will allow gambling apps on the Play Store in Australia, and 13 other markets around the world from March 1st.

Google Gambling Application Online

The policy change – announced on the Google Play Developer Console – will allow ‘real-money gambling apps, ads related to real-money gambling, and daily fantasy sports apps’ to be listed on the Google Play store, doing away with the current method of downloading an APK from the gambling apps site and then side-loading it.

Google Gambling Application

Having the apps officially available through the Google Play store will allow Google to scan the app, like they do all apps on the Play Store, in order to protect users from any malicious code.

Google Gambling Applications

The change affects users in 14 new markets which includes Australia, with Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United States also getting access at the same time. Previously only users in Brazil, Ireland, France and the UK were able to install these types of apps.

Google Gambling Application Free

Apple has allowed gambling apps on the iOS app store for some time now, though with restrictions on age, location and more in place. Google too will have restrictions on these apps once they go live, requiring an AO (Adults Only) rating attached to these apps, among other things.

In Australia, Google says on their site that they will specifically allow Sports betting, Lotteries and Daily Fantasy Sports apps, ‘Subject to the application and licensing requirements above”.

The addition of gambling apps to Google play will have to be done carefully. Tony Mohr, Executive Director, Alliance for Gambling Reform says that ‘Providing online gambling to Australians is illegal unless the gambling company is registered and licensed in Australia for Australian operations‘. This provides among other things consumer protections for Australians.

The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) has previously forced the shutdown of dozens of illegal online gambling providers. Any entity attempting to make an app available on Google Play without jumping through the correct hoops would be similarly shut down.

Having easier access to gambling apps on phones ‘can can greatly increase the risk of people experiencing gambling harm’ said Mr Mohr.

It’s important to Gamble Responsibly, and if you do, then the benefit of having apps available from a reputable and monitored source is a benefit for those who intend to use them. You should begin to see gambling apps on Google Play from March 1st.

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