Google Play recently updated its policies on gambling apps that feature real-money betting. The update is good news for gamblers as it expands the list of countries where gambling apps are allowed.
Previously, Google only permitted gambling apps in four countries. These are the UK, Ireland, Brazil, and France. Google’s update raises the number to nineteen, which now includes the United States, Japan, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Finland, Denmark, and Colombia.
In a statement, Google said that it introduced the updates to allow more developers worldwide to create sustainable apps and businesses. The company also explained that legitimizing online gambling helps in keeping consumers safe and secure.
The bad news
Unfortunately, Google’s updated list of gambling-app-allowed countries does not include India. The south Asian country, which has a massive online gambling market, apparently has not convinced Google that it should be part of the new list.
The reason for this is reportedly the strict scrutiny apps have been getting in India. Multiple states in the country have laws or executive directives to ban such apps outright. Paytm and Paytm First Games, for example, were recently blocked because they allegedly permitted users to engage in sports betting.
Still, Indians who want to play games of luck online are not completely prevented from gambling on the internet. India does not have laws that strictly ban online casinos, so these gambling sites continue operating in the country. Even offshore online casinos are allowed to serve Indian players without many legal impediments. The only requirement the government imposes on them is to support the Indian rupee as one of the currencies for keeping account balances and withdrawals.
To find the top casinos in the country, you can turn to a dependable online gambling guide like India Casino Info. It rates legitimate web-based casinos in India along with information on bonuses and promotions. Not all casinos that serve Indian players are created equal, so it helps to use a reliable reference to find the best options.
Outlook
Google’s update is set to take effect on March 1, 2021. It’s not all doom and gloom for India’s mobile gambling market, though. Many are pushing for the legalization of online gambling in the country. There are also many in the Parliament who support the move.
The legalization of online gambling in the country has one advantage many cannot easily dismiss. According to one study, India could have generated 10.2 billion rupees in national revenue in 2020 if all of the “underground” or “unsanctioned” online gambling in the country were subjected to a 15% tax. A higher tax of 20% to 30% would have allowed the government to collect up to 20.3 billion rupees.
With all the huge amounts of lost revenues, many in the Parliament are expected to give the proposal to fully legalize online gambling and other forms of gaming. Aside from the tax revenues, advocates also argue that allowing India’s online gambling enthusiasts to transact with unregulated players exposes them to fraud and various other possible abuses or onerous practices. Offshore online casinos are taking advantage of the big market without any accountability and contribution to the domestic economy.
Source (India losing):
https://www.indiapost.com/with-an-unregulated-online-gambling-market-india-is-losing-140m-annually/
