India‘s Competition Commission (CCI) has launched an investigation into Google’s policies regarding real-money gaming apps, responding to allegations of unfair practices raised by gaming platform WinZO.
According to Reuters, the investigation was triggered by a complaint filed by WinZO in 2022, following Google’s update to its Play Store policy. The new rules allowed real-money games related to fantasy sports and rummy but excluded platforms offering a broader range of games, such as WinZO. According to WinZO, Google rejected its application because it features games like carrom, puzzles, and car racing—categories that fall outside Google’s approved list for real-money games.
WinZO’s complaint accused Google of creating a “two-tier market,” where select app categories receive preferential treatment, leaving others at a disadvantage. This alleged discrimination hampers fair competition by providing enhanced visibility and access to certain developers while sidelining others. A copy of the CCI order stated that such practices could harm the competitive landscape for app developers in India.
The CCI has set a 60-day timeline to conclude its probe into the matter. If the allegations are upheld, Google could face additional regulatory penalties, adding to its challenges in India. Last year, Google was fined twice for abusing its dominance in the Android ecosystem through its in-app payment system.
Google has yet to respond to these latest allegations.
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