Google To Allow Gambling Apps In The Play Store From March 1st
Android sports betting fans rejoice – Google has confirmed that from March 1st, 2021 sports betting and casino apps in regulated U.S. states will be allowed in the Google Play Store. That means Android users will have the same straightforward access to gambling platforms like FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM as their iOS counterparts have enjoyed over the past few years of legalized gambling.
What Is Changing
Until now, gambling-related apps were not permitted in the Google Play Store. That meant betting fans who own an Android device had to download their app of choice by a sideload method. They had to visit the sportsbook or casino website and follow the directions from there.
This method is something Google has been discouraging more and more. Apple users, on the other hand, can simply download gambling apps directly from the App Store.
What Does This Mean In My State?
The types of apps that Google can approve vary per region due to the differing laws in place. Legalization of gambling in the U.S. is on a state-by-state basis. That means users in some locations will be able to access casino games, for instance, while others will not.
Below are the types of games allowed in the U.S. and the states where they will be available:
– Online Casino Games – Allowed in Delaware, Nevada (poker only), Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
– Sports Betting – Allowed in Colorado, D.C. (state-run), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana (state-run), Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon (state-run), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
– Lotteries – State operators or affiliated contracted operators in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
– Depending on the state, Daily Fantasy Sports may be regulated as gambling. All daily fantasy sports apps published in the United States are subject to the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Apps requirements.
