Mumbai: In a pivotal development for India’s online gaming landscape, Google has announced its intent to open the Play Store to all permissible real-money gaming (RMG) formats. This move, revealed in Google’s proposal submitted to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) as part of an ongoing antitrust probe, includes the development of a business model tailored to the commercial realities of the RMG sector. The CCI has invited public comments on the proposal, with the deadline set for August 20.
The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the country’s apex industry body for online gaming, has welcomed the development.
Welcoming the move, Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), stated, “Google’s proposal to open the Play Store to all permissible real money gaming (RMG) formats is a timely and welcome step toward building a more equitable and transparent digital ecosystem for the Indian gaming industry. The inclusion of certification by recognised self-regulatory bodies is an important acknowledgment of the structured compliance efforts undertaken by the AIGF and other stakeholders in the online gaming sector over the years.
As the largest and oldest industry body for online gaming in India, we remain committed to fostering a safe, compliant, and innovation-friendly environment. Over the past three years, we have actively engaged with all relevant stakeholders to help shape balanced and forward-looking policy outcomesfor the sector. We’re encouraged to see that this constructive engagement is bearing fruit, and believe this move will empower responsible operators, support innovation, and ensure a safer experience for Indian consumers.”
“We are pleased that, if accepted by the CCI, Google will recognise AIGF issued certificates as valid proof for the legal and skill-based classification of games. This reflects the credibility and rigour of the voluntary certification process undertaken by the All India Skill Gaming Council (AISGC), which was established in 2018. Under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court Justice, the AISGC has applied an exhaustive qualitative and quantitative framework to determine whether a game qualifies as one of skill under Indian law.
As the RMG sector continues to evolve, consistent and fair platform access will be critical to its long-term sustainability. As the representative of the largest number of MSMEs in the online skill gaming space, we believe this move will help create a level playing field, reduce entry barriers, and give a much-needed boost to smaller and emerging operators. It will also provide further impetus to the growth of India’s online gaming sector, supporting job creation, digital inclusion, and the broader digital economy.”
