It will be 'game on' soon at the Google Play Store for Pennsylvania sportsbook apps and online casinos.
Google Play announced an upcoming policy change that will allow real-money gambling apps that include online casinos, lotteries, sports betting and daily fantasy sports.
To play on a Mobile Device, you must download the DraftKings Sportsbook App. Note for those on Android: Google Play doesn't allow real money gambling apps so we let you download them directly from our website. To install the apps you need to allow ‘Unknown sources' on your device. Go to ‘Settings'. Download DraftKings Sportsbook for the best gaming experience. Available on iOS and Android. You must download the app in order to play DraftKings Sportsbook. Lines and odds subject to change.
As of now, real-money gambling apps are only available in Brazilian, Irish, French and British Google Play Stores. The new policy goes into effect on March 1, and gambling apps will be available in the United States and 14 additional countries.
Google Play in for PA iGaming
Thirteen online sportsbooks and 12 online casinos are available in Pennsylvania. Currently, users who are 21+ and physically located in PA can download and play via:
- iOS
- Desktop
- Android, whose users access the apps via direct download from the operator's website
This major change helps operators reach a wider audience and also makes the process more streamlined for users.
DraftKings confirmed the change to Online Poker Report in a statement:
'As sports betting and iGaming continues to expand across the United States, we are excited that DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino apps will soon be available to download for Android users via Google Play.'
Strict requirement for gambling apps
To get a place in the Google Play store, a developer must have a valid gambling license for each country or state where the app is offered. Also, developers in the 15 countries new to the Google Play store have a list of conditions to meet, and a number of them deal with responsible gaming.
Eligible apps must meet the following requirements:
- Developer must successfully complete the application process in order to distribute the app on Google Play.
- App must comply with all applicable laws and industry standards for each country.
- Developer must have a valid gambling license for each country or state/territory.
- Developer must not offer a type of gambling product that exceeds the scope of its gambling license.
- App must prevent underage users from using it.
- App must prevent access and use from countries, states/territories or geographic areas not covered by the developer-provided gambling license.
- The app must NOT be purchasable as a paid app on Google Play, nor use Google Play In-app Billing.
- App must be free to download and install from the store.
- App must be rated AO (Adult Only) or IARC equivalent.
- App and its listing must clearly display information about responsible gambling.
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Gambling apps will be allowed in the Google Play store in the United States for the first time, according to a change in Google's Developer Program Policy.
According to Google's policy center, 'We allow real-money gambling apps, ads related to real-money gambling, and daily fantasy sports apps that meet certain requirements,' effective March 1. Terms for developers to apply for inclusion in the US can be found in the policy update.
The change applies to US online casino apps, online lotteries, and sportsbook apps. Google has previously made the decision to allow gambling apps in certain other countries, such as the United Kingdom.
DraftKings confirmed the change to Online Poker Report in a statement:
'As sports betting and iGaming continues to expand across the United States, we are excited that DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino apps will soon be available to download for Android users via Google Play.'
The news was first reported by Reuters.
A boon to online gambling operators
It's a major change that should help online gambling operators across the spectrum in the US. At the moment, Android users can only obtain online casino, sportsbook, and poker apps via direct download from the operator's website. This also requires changing the security settings on the device, which can seem scary to some users.
That less-than-streamlined process likely means gambling operators don't fully realize their addressable audience of Android users. Getting their apps onto the Play store will change that situation for the better.
Draftkings Sportsbook Android
Gambling apps are already available on the App Store for Apple devices in the US.
What Google said on gambling
Here is what Google wrote in its gambling policy:
Subject to restrictions and compliance with all Google Play policies, we allow apps that enable or facilitate online gambling in the following countries in the table below as long as the Developer completes the application process for gambling apps being distributed on Play, is an approved governmental operator and/or is registered as a licensed operator with the appropriate governmental gambling authority in the specified country, and provides a valid operating license in the specified country for the type of online gambling product they want to offer.
We only allow valid licensed or authorized gambling apps that have the following types of online gambling products (please consult the table below for the specific types of gambling products allowed in each country):
DraftKings confirmed the change to Online Poker Report in a statement:
'As sports betting and iGaming continues to expand across the United States, we are excited that DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino apps will soon be available to download for Android users via Google Play.'
The news was first reported by Reuters.
A boon to online gambling operators
It's a major change that should help online gambling operators across the spectrum in the US. At the moment, Android users can only obtain online casino, sportsbook, and poker apps via direct download from the operator's website. This also requires changing the security settings on the device, which can seem scary to some users.
That less-than-streamlined process likely means gambling operators don't fully realize their addressable audience of Android users. Getting their apps onto the Play store will change that situation for the better.
Draftkings Sportsbook Android
Gambling apps are already available on the App Store for Apple devices in the US.
What Google said on gambling
Here is what Google wrote in its gambling policy:
Subject to restrictions and compliance with all Google Play policies, we allow apps that enable or facilitate online gambling in the following countries in the table below as long as the Developer completes the application process for gambling apps being distributed on Play, is an approved governmental operator and/or is registered as a licensed operator with the appropriate governmental gambling authority in the specified country, and provides a valid operating license in the specified country for the type of online gambling product they want to offer.
We only allow valid licensed or authorized gambling apps that have the following types of online gambling products (please consult the table below for the specific types of gambling products allowed in each country):
- Online casino games
- Lotteries
- Sports betting
- Daily Fantasy Sports
Draftkings Sportsbook Google Play App
