Google announced on June 21 that it is pausing its plans to implement a service fee on real money games (RMGs) and expand to other formats globally, including India. This move provides temporary relief to skill-based gaming companies in the region.
Extended Grace Period for Indian Developers
The tech giant is also extending the grace period for developers of daily fantasy sports (DFS) and rummy apps participating in its India pilot program.
This extension is indefinite, allowing existing apps offering DFS and Rummy games to remain on the Play Store, enabling users to continue enjoying these games without interruption.
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Developing a Thoughtful Framework
As Google said, they could expand support for RMGs in the gaming market. However, it will not be easy since it requires a central licensing framework to operate.
The search engine giant adds that they need extra time to get it right for the sake of the dev partners and users.
"We're working hard to develop a thoughtful framework - and in the meantime, in India, we are extending the grace period of the pilot program so existing apps offering DFS and Rummy games in India can remain on Play and users can continue to enjoy them. We hope to have further updates in the coming months on a path forward," a Google spokesperson stated.
Facing Regulatory Challenges in India
Google specifically addressed the challenges of the Indian market, noting the absence of a central licensing framework that clearly defines what types of games are permitted in the country.
This regulatory uncertainty has made Google cautious about proceeding without clear guidelines.
Additionally, last year, India's IT ministry paused the formation of a self-regulating body for the gaming industry, which might have established rules regarding real-money games. This further complicates the regulatory sector for companies like Google, per TechCrunch.
Google's decision to pause service fees on real money games and extend the grace period for Indian developers indicates that its plans for RMGs should not be rushed.
By working on a thoughtful framework and awaiting clearer guidelines, the tech titan aims to support the growth of RMGs on the Play Store while securing compliance with local regulations.
In other news, Tech Times reports that Instagram users can soon broadcast live stream exclusively. For those who only want their close friends to see their live clips, this feature is helpful to improve user privacy and engagement.
On top of that, users can include music to carousel posts in IG's update. Before, this only applies to photos.
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