On the 18th of September, Google took down India’s digital payment application PayTm and it’s PayTm First Games.
Paytm First Games (PFG,) was a digital platform offering fantasy sports and to earn money online.
According to sources, Google removed both the applications, PayTM and PFG from Google Play Store.
The decision to ban these applications were taken on the grounds of various policy violations related to online gaming and sports betting.
Google India said, the company decides to terminate Google Play Developer accounts after repeated policy violations by the app developer and is only brought back into the playstore when the developer complies with the regulations.
Suzanne Frey, Vice President of Product, Android Security and Privacy, said, “We don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies.”
Currently PayTM has more than 450 million users in India.
As of now in countries like France, Ireland and UK, Google does not allow the apps that contain content or services that facilitate online gambling.
In addition, for the third party applications promoting and advertising the PFG, Google’s policy requires they must clearly display information about responsible gambling on its landing page.
Speaking about the ban, PayTM took to it’s official Twitter handle and said, the app has been temporarily made unavailable on Google Play Store and will be back very soon, assuring the customers that their money is completely safe.
Stay tuned for further updates
