Google has paused its global experiment to expand real-money games on the Play Store due to regulatory challenges, particularly in regions without a central authority to approve such apps. The company will continue to support apps from existing pilot programs in India and is working on a suitable framework and service fee structure for these games.
Google is changing its Play Store policy to allow more real-money gaming apps, initially enforcing the new rules in India, Mexico, and Brazil. The company conducted pilot programs in various parts of the world since 2021 to support more real-money game operators and game types. It plans to expand the availability of real-money gaming apps in other regions in the future, while maintaining age requirements and geo-fencing to comply with local laws. Additionally, Google is evolving its service fee model for real-money gaming apps to sustain the Android and Play ecosystems.
Google plans to expand support for real-money games on the Play Store, starting in India, Brazil, and Mexico in June, with more countries to follow. The company is considering a new service fee model for subscriptions and in-app purchases but has not disclosed specific details. This change in policy will allow more types of real-money gaming apps, governed by local laws, to be available on the platform, with detailed policies to be published in the coming months.