Google Play to Allow Gambling Apps in New Zealand

As of March 1st this year, real money apps will be allowed in New Zealand on Google Play Store.

New Zealand will be one of  15 countries the Google Play Store will allow real money gambling apps to be featured. Currently, Google Play Store is currently only allowing real money apps in the UK, Ireland, France, and Brazil.

The 15 countries that will be allowed as of next month will be  Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.

Google’s support page stated that four gambling categories will be allowed including online casino games, lotteries, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports. To be featured in the Google Play Store, developers will need to complete a special gambling application form and ensure that their gambling app has an International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) content rating as well as meeting Google’s Developer Policy Center requirements.

Great care is also being taken to prevent underage users from accessing gambling apps. In the US, where there are different gambling laws depending on the state, there are per state and per-category requirements for gambling apps.

“Excellent News”

Richard Wagstaff, Managing Director at Degree 53, a leading online gambling technology provider, specialising in the UX, design, and development of bespoke web and app services said of the surprise Google announcement:

“Online sports betting and gaming is experiencing rapid growth in the United States, and operators will benefit from distributing their Android apps with Google. No doubt, this is excellent news for them.”

“We’re yet to see if Google will also bring any rules regarding app design and UX, similar to Apple’s Design Guidelines regarding container apps. However, we advise all app owners to create their apps with the latest design trends and as much native functionality as possible to futureproof their products and create an enjoyable experience for their customers.”