Google has revealed plans to expand support for real-money games (RMG) on the Play Store, opening up opportunities for developers in India, Brazil, and Mexico, with further global expansion on the horizon. 

"With this policy update, we will also be evolving our service fee model for RMG to reflect the value Google Play provides and to help sustain the Android and Play ecosystems. We are working closely with developers to ensure our new approach reflects the unique economics and various developer earning models of this industry," Karan Gambhir, Director, Global Trust & Safety Partnerships at Google, said in a blog post.

Real-Money Games on Google Play

The tech giant is set to initiate the extended support for real-money gaming in June this year, allowing developers in India, Brazil, and Mexico to offer a broader range of RMG apps, encompassing various game types and operators not covered by existing licensing frameworks.

This comes as part of Google's effort to create new business opportunities for developers globally while prioritizing user safety. Gambhir emphasized the company's commitment to evolving its service fee model for RMG.

While specific details about the new fee structure were not disclosed, Gambhir stated that Google is collaborating closely with developers to ensure the approach aligns with the industry's unique economics and diverse earning models.

The initiative is built upon lessons learned from pilots and positive feedback from users and developers. The expanded RMG support is expected to offer a more inclusive platform for developers in the mentioned countries, and Google anticipates further expansion to additional regions in the future.

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Google Play's Pilot Program

For developers already participating in Google Play's Pilot Program for distributing Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and Rummy apps in India, the grace period for pilot apps to remain on the Play Store has been extended until June 30, 2024, aligning with the implementation of the new policy. 

After this period, developers can distribute a broader spectrum of RMG apps in India, ensuring compliance with local laws. Similarly, for developers in the Google Play Pilot Program for DFS in Mexico, the pilot is scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2024. Subsequently, developers can distribute RMG apps in Mexico, beyond DFS, adhering to local laws and the updated policy.

The current developer policies of Google Play, prioritizing user safety, will persist. These policies encompass age-gating to restrict RMG experiences to adults, geo-gating to make RMG apps available only in regions where they are lawful, and ongoing efforts to enhance user safety and transparency, including the implementation of expanded developer verification mechanisms.

As Google Play evolves its support for RMG on a global scale, the company aims to assist developers in preparing for upcoming policy changes, fostering the growth of their businesses, and launching new game types in a secure and compliant manner. 

The announcement concludes with the promise of more information to be shared in the coming months regarding the new policy and future expansion plans. 

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