New Delhi: Google on Friday extended a pilot program on real-money online gaming for an indefinite period, following which small gaming companies and startups accused the internet giant of engaging in arbitrary and anti-competitive practices.
The latest move marks another example of confrontation between BigTech and startups in the digital and online space.
In September 2022, Google launched a pilot program to distribute DFS and Rummy apps to users in India with select apps from Dream11, Games24x7, etc. (which have a high market share) with the promise that the new policy will take effect after June 30, 2024. .
The company has now decided to expand the pilot as it is finding it difficult to develop a framework for real money games in countries like India where there is no licensing framework available to manage them.
When contacted, Google's spokesperson said expanding support for real-money gaming apps in markets without a central licensing framework has proven more difficult than expected.
"We need more time to get it right for our developer partners and the security of our users. We are working hard to develop a well-thought-out framework and, in the meantime, in India, we are extending the grace period of the pilot program so the applications Existing players that offer DFS and Rummy games can remain on Play and users can continue to enjoy them.
"We hope to have further updates in the coming months on the way forward," the spokesperson said.
India's gaming industry body All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) said Google Play Store conservatively owns more than 90 percent of the app distribution market and exerts tremendous control over the mobile market. India.
"We are very disappointed by Google's arbitrary and anti-competitive decision. In this context, not having an inclusive policy and discriminating is a form of control and market distortion. Disregard for Indian law, encouraging anti-competitive practices and limiting "The choice by a private entity is alarming," AIGF CEO Roland Landers said in a statement.
AIGF said it was initially concerned about Google's decision to limit the pilot to certain games, but believed it would eventually be expanded to include all skill-based Pay to Play games.
"Their (Google's) decision gives them unfettered control to pick winners in the market, favoring large companies and preventing small and emerging companies from effectively competing in this sector," Landers said.
He maintained that the situation underlines the imminent need for ex ante competition regulation and the rapid implementation of the Digital Competition Bill.
Google had been at loggerheads with several Indian startups and digital entities over its PlayStore policies.
The antitrust body, the Competition Commission of India, had previously ordered Google not to enforce a previous system of charging between 15 and 30 percent. Google subsequently imposed an 11 to 26 percent fee on in-app payments.
Earlier this year, the company removed a large number of Indian apps from its Play Store like Bharat Matrimony, Naukri, Kuku FM, Shaadi, etc., for non-compliance with its in-app payment guidelines. However, it restored the apps after government intervention.
The latest move marks another example of confrontation between BigTech and startups in the digital and online space.
In September 2022, Google launched a pilot program to distribute DFS and Rummy apps to users in India with select apps from Dream11, Games24x7, etc. (which have a high market share) with the promise that the new policy will take effect after June 30, 2024. .
The company has now decided to expand the pilot as it is finding it difficult to develop a framework for real money games in countries like India where there is no licensing framework available to manage them.
When contacted, Google's spokesperson said expanding support for real-money gaming apps in markets without a central licensing framework has proven more difficult than expected.
"We need more time to get it right for our developer partners and the security of our users. We are working hard to develop a well-thought-out framework and, in the meantime, in India, we are extending the grace period of the pilot program so the applications Existing players that offer DFS and Rummy games can remain on Play and users can continue to enjoy them.
"We hope to have further updates in the coming months on the way forward," the spokesperson said.
India's gaming industry body All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) said Google Play Store conservatively owns more than 90 percent of the app distribution market and exerts tremendous control over the mobile market. India.
"We are very disappointed by Google's arbitrary and anti-competitive decision. In this context, not having an inclusive policy and discriminating is a form of control and market distortion. Disregard for Indian law, encouraging anti-competitive practices and limiting "The choice by a private entity is alarming," AIGF CEO Roland Landers said in a statement.
AIGF said it was initially concerned about Google's decision to limit the pilot to certain games, but believed it would eventually be expanded to include all skill-based Pay to Play games.
"Their (Google's) decision gives them unfettered control to pick winners in the market, favoring large companies and preventing small and emerging companies from effectively competing in this sector," Landers said.
He maintained that the situation underlines the imminent need for ex ante competition regulation and the rapid implementation of the Digital Competition Bill.
Google had been at loggerheads with several Indian startups and digital entities over its PlayStore policies.
The antitrust body, the Competition Commission of India, had previously ordered Google not to enforce a previous system of charging between 15 and 30 percent. Google subsequently imposed an 11 to 26 percent fee on in-app payments.
Earlier this year, the company removed a large number of Indian apps from its Play Store like Bharat Matrimony, Naukri, Kuku FM, Shaadi, etc., for non-compliance with its in-app payment guidelines. However, it restored the apps after government intervention.
