Google Play allows real-money gambling apps, ads related to real-money gambling, loyalty programs with gamified outcomes, and daily fantasy sports apps that meet certain requirements. These apps must comply with all Google Play policies, including the Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests policy and the country/region allowances for gambling apps.
The following are examples of the most common issues we encounter in reviewing these apps. Review these issues and our policies to make sure your app complies with the relevant requirements.
Publishing requirements aren’t met
Make sure your gambling app fulfills all the requirements for publishing before you submit it for review. You must have a valid gambling license for each country or state/territory in which the app is distributed. Double-check to ensure you enter the correct details in the Gambling Application Form. In addition, make sure your app is rated AO (Adult Only) or IARC equivalent.
Incorrect gambling license type
Your gambling license must cover the type of gambling proposed. Don’t offer a type of gambling product that is outside the scope of your gambling license.
Incorrect geo-gating
Your app must adequately geo-gate the functionality of the content found within the app. The Real-Money Gambling, Games, and Contests policy requires that all real-money gambling apps must prevent access and use from countries and regions not covered by the developer-provided gambling license. See Play Policy’s Country/region allowances for gambling apps. This means that existing accounts may not operate the app within countries disallowed by this policy and the Google Play Gambling Terms and Conditions Agreement within the Gambling Application Form, and apps must block the sign-up of new accounts in these geographies.
No age-gating
It’s important to prevent underage users from using gambling apps. Make sure your app adequately age-gates underage users from registering and using the app.
Missing responsible gambling link
Gambling apps that are distributed on Google Play must clearly display information about responsible gambling. They also need to provide a responsible gambling link in-app that leads to an outside resource.
For example, you may customize the following text using the responsible gambling resources for the appropriate country: "This is a real-money gambling app. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford. For gambling addiction help and support, please contact (responsible gambling resource) at (phone number), or visit (website)."
A common in-app best practice is to provide the responsible gambling statement in the footer of your app, or as a line item within the top-level menu in the app.
App is incorrectly published on a test track
For your app to be reviewed appropriately, it must be published on the production track rather than on a test track. Be sure to upload all of your real-money gambling app bundles or APKs on the production track and submit them for review.
App is non-functioning
At a minimum, apps need to provide users with a basic degree of functionality and a respectful user experience. An app that doesn’t load, appears incomplete, or doesn’t offer the advertised functionality can’t be published. In order for your submission to be approved, you must resubmit a policy-compliant, fully functional app for review.
App isn’t compliant with User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy
Make sure you review the User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy. Your app’s description in the store listing should not contain details that highlight user incentives for installing the app. App listings that contain offers of monetary equivalent for installing the app violate our User, Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policy.
Developers must not add text or images that indicate store performance or ranking, or suggest relations to existing Google Play programs in the app title, icon, or developer name.
App isn’t compliant with Payments policy
Make sure your app content complies with the Payments policy. The app must not be purchasable as a paid app on Google Play, nor use Google Play In-app Billing.
Existing app cannot be repurposed for real-money gambling
The app was previously published with a rating lower than Adults Only (or equivalent) and was then updated to include real-money gambling features.
Users are allowed unlimited reinstalls of each app distributed via Google Play, and existing users will receive updates about these apps. Therefore, you must upload your new real-money gambling app bundle or APK as a new app with a new package name.