Bad news for Paytm as Google pulled off the popular Indian payment app from the Google Play Store. According to the search giant, it will not endorse any gambling app on its app store. Paytm is one of the most valuable startups in India which claims to have more than 50 million monthly active users.
“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. We have these policies to protect users from potential harm,” reads Google blog post.
Dear Paytm'ers,
Paytm Android app is temporarily unavailable on Google's Play Store for new downloads or updates. It will be back very soon.
All your money is completely safe, and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal.
— Paytm (@Paytm) September 18, 2020
Paytm posted a tweet ensuring that the company is in talks with Google and get the app back soon. The tweet claims that the Android app is temporarily unavailable on Google Play Store for new downloads and updates, but it will be back soon. The official tweet also ensures that all the money is safe in the Paytm wallet and users can continue to use the app as normal.
Google’s Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy, citing the issue of online casinos incorporated with the Paytm app wrote that Google doesn’t promote or support any illegal gambling app which supports sports betting. This also applies on apps that provide external links to websites which allow users to participate in “paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies.”
According to TechCrunch, it has have reviewed an email where Google has warned a list of Indian companies to stop all the advertisement campaign related to online sports betting apps.
This can be a step by Google to stop the online betting which happens every year throughout the IPL season. During this season such app witnesses a download surge every year.
