Google Play suspended Paytm app and Paytm First Games app for several hours. The former was restored. Paytm and Google Pay are competitors as payment apps. Google advanced the cause of online gambling while taking off Paytm.

Google’s Android drives close to 99 per cent cell phones in India. Android users load apps through Google Play Store. Paytm has 50 million users. Google’s dominance in Android space should not be used to muscle out its rivals. However, Google’s reasoning mentioned online betting. Paytm and First Game both connect to First Games fantasy sports service. Here fantasy teams are chosen by users. The team mates are real players from real teams. These games generate real cash awards. Other similar apps from other countries too have been pulled out. Google is American company where the laws ban online casinos and online sports betting. Elsewhere say in Europe and Australia, the laws are liberal. They allow online betting. India allows games of skills ( such as fantasy sports and quizzes) online for cash rewards, but prohibits betting on sports events. Google is extra cautious in other jurisdictions and bans apps deemed to be illegal in the USA.

It leads to situations where Google Play does not allow the playing of games which are legal in India. Fantasy IPL has a huge following in India. Fantasy football is the craze elsewhere. These are games of skill where real life players as the performers are chosen. Google should revise its policy where such games are legal.

An app store should not put a layer above the local government and regulator. It cannot decide the destiny of Indian startups.