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The changes will also be integrated into Google’s Ad policy that earlier allegedly restricted RMG apps other than DFS and Rummy from advertising on its platform.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Google LLC on Thursday proposed to come up with specific criteria for onboarding real-money gaming (RMG) apps on Google Play platform to address the antitrust allegations and related probe initiated by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) last year. After receiving the proposal from the tech giant, the anti-trust watchdog has invited stakeholders to submit their comments by August 20.
As per the public proposal, Google will allow all self-declared RMG apps on Google Play in India if developers provide certification from “a reputable and authoritative” third-party body. This may include indsutry associations such as All India gaming Federation (AIGF), E Gaming Federation (EGF) and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS). Doing so resolves the alleged exclusion of RMG apps and favouring of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and rummy apps, said Google.
“The RMG policy update addresses the CCI’s concerns (of competitive disadvantages to certain RMGs). By permitting all RMGs self-declared by developers as permissible online RMGs, the competitive field is levelled,” said Google in the proposal.
Skill game certificate
The changes will also be integrated into Google’s Ad policy that earlier allegedly restricted RMG apps other than DFS and Rummy from advertising on its platform. Google will allow games to be advertised in India if the advertiser proves via certification that the RMG is a ‘skill game.’
The CCI had also flagged alleged targeting of certain RMG apps by way of payment warnings displays on Google Pay for certain transactions. On this, Google said such warnings are applied uniformly and are necessary under the directives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
“They are not specific to any consumer, individual merchant, or a particular product “class”, nor do they differentiate between developers distributed on Google Play or outside of Google Play,” said Google.
Reacting to the news, Winzo Games that originally complained to the CCI, said, “Google’s discriminatory conduct has sidelined this wave of innovation, offering legacy fantasy and rummy platforms an unfair head start in access, trust and capital. This has stifled one of digital India’s most dynamic sectors, built on creativity, entrepreneurship, and inclusion. This issue goes far beyond app store access. With the right support, this sector can become a $60 billion global powerhouse in under a decade, powering digital exports, job creation, and India’s rise as a global gaming leader.”
Published on July 31, 2025
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