Google has been getting stricter with apps not adhering to its policies on its app store. We saw what it did to ¡®Mitron¡¯ and ¡®Remove China Apps¡¯ for going against the policies.?
However, this time this axe has been swung for India¡¯s popular digital payments platform.
Google has gone ahead and pulled Indian digital wallet platform PayTM and its sister app PayTM First Games due to the violation of Google¡¯s gambling policy on its app store.
The Paytm First Games app that sees over 50 million monthly active users was facilitating sports betting on its platform. Google¡¯s Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy said in a blog post, ¡°We don¡¯t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies.¡±
She added, ¡°We have these policies to protect users from potential harm. When an app violates these policies, we notify the developer of the violation and remove the app from Google Play until the developer brings the app into compliance. And in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced on all developers consistently.¡±
This action comes just a day before Indian Premier League matches were set to kick off. And PayTM, through its PayTM First Games, allows people to bet on fantasy teams and earn real money through its platform. PayTM First Games is also known to include card-based gambling games like Rummy as well as an online portal for playing Ludo.?
Oddly enough, sports betting isn¡¯t permitted in India, however, many have been doing so under the garb of fantasy sports where it isn¡¯t termed illegal in some states of the nation.
PayTM hasn¡¯t issued any official statements yet upon this suspension.?