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It is nearly the end of the second month of the year and plenty is happening in the iGambling industry.

The industry has seen a lot of changes, advancements, and new releases in terms of games, casinos and more.

One of the best announcements being Google's update on Google Play Store policies and the lift on the gambling and betting app ban.

Google's changes to the policy

Google is making changes to their Developer Policy Centre mainly by expanding their Real-Money Gambling, Games and Contests policy. In a recent press release, Google confirmed that changes and updates are being put in place as part of their continuous effort to make Google Play a positive experience and provide more developers with the opportunity to build sustainable businesses.

Only after thorough investigation and an in-depth analytical look at how policies and app review processes can protect users and developers, has Google decided to expand on the Real Money Gambling, Games and Contests policies. These changes will not be instantaneous but operators and eager players can expect these changes from the 1st of March 2021.

The lift of the ban on gambling apps is a major boost for the online gambling industry especially with Google opening its doors to 15 more countries. Developers will be able to publish real-money gambling apps in several regions including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.

The addition of these 15 countries is big news considering that gambling apps to date were only allowed in four countries including Brazil, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

While Google is lifting the ban, each country will still have its limitations as to what kind of gambling is considered legal within the country.

In some countries, players will have access to a wide range of betting options ranging from online casinos to sports betting, lotteries and daily fantasy sports whereas in other countries there are more restrictive options.

In the majority of the 15 countries now allowed to offer apps on Google, the offers will mainly consist of lotteries run by the government. There will be some variations of other casino apps including sports betting and daily fantasy sports. The primary focus will be on ensuring all apps available are legal within the region, carrying the correct licensing.

Other changes in the policy include a set of new requirements for gamified loyalty programs and the update on several elements within the Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests policy. Examples will also be available to provide clarity on the procedures and requirements.

A slow rollout

The general thought would be that new apps will come streaming in on the 1st of March 2021. This will not be the case.

Instead, Google is implementing a strict application process which all developers need to adhere to if they wish to get their apps on the Play Store.

This ensures all apps are correctly licensed and developers are legally allowed to run a gambling operation in the country where they plan on selling the app.

Google is implementing a strict set of rules including all gambling apps being free to download and install with responsible gambling information displayed.

From 1 March 2021, you will notice more gambling apps slowly becoming available within legal regions on Google Play Store.