Google Allows Gambling Apps in the Play Store

For a long time, the way into the mobile offer of a gambling provider-led Android users via detours. Players had to download the APK files via an external source of the respective provider. The reason: Google refused to offer real-money gambling apps for download.

Now, however, the corporation is changing direction. Henceforth, the guidelines for gambling apps are softer than ever before. Ireland is one of these nations, but the home market of the USA is also included.

This should be excellent news for all gamblers with an Android device – especially since the recent mobile gaming revolution.

New Programming Guidelines at Google: Green Light for Gambling Apps

The new year holds some pleasant news for the gambling industry and its players. Especially for all gamblers with an Android device. Google has changed its programming guidelines and, in this context, is happy to receive Android casinos now.

In no less than 15 nations, the Internet giant will allow real-money gambling apps to download from its Play Store in the future. Until 2020, this was only available to players in France, Ireland, Brazil, and the UK.

Now, a whole range of nations will be added to the list. One of these nations will be Ireland, which should cause great excitement among gamers here.

Besides Ireland, Japan, Denmark, Canada, the USA, Spain, Finland, and Norway are also among the nations that will be able to access gambling apps from the Play Store in the future.

Until now, it was not possible for players from Ireland to download casino apps via Google's app store. As a rule, customers, therefore, had to resort to external sources of the provider if they wanted to use a download app.

Alternatively, access without download was and is possible directly via the browser with the help of HTML5 apps.

Not All Gambling Apps Are the Same

Already since 2017, Google has been busy allowing the download of real-money gambling casinos in some nations. However, the companies must meet strict requirements for this.

A license from the respective country is required, as well as the apps must verify the age of the user and point out that there are certain risks associated with the use of the apps.

Furthermore, the company sorts the gambling apps into a total of four different categories. The online casino games, apps for online lotteries, apps for sports betting and apps for daily fantasy sports.

Similar specifications should now accompany the companies into the Irish version of the Play Store. Up to now, gambling apps could already be found here, but without the possibility of real money wagering.

Exceptions and Special Cases Determine the Rule

However, it is still unclear to what extent the generally valid guidelines also apply in the individual countries. In all countries, their own country-specific requirements are likely to create significant differences.

In Ireland, for example, only sports betting and lottery apps will probably be offered legally for the time being. As soon as the rules for the online gambling market have been finally defined, the gambling apps are likely to follow suit.

However: The state continues to hold its hand on the lottery monopoly. So private companies don't really benefit here. Nevertheless, things still look better for the companies here than in the Scandinavian country of Finland.

Here, the slot machine apps, sports betting apps and lottery apps are all in the hands of the state. The situation is even more complex in Google's home country. In the USA, some states have their own regulations. With around 50 states, the Internet giant has its work cut out for it.