Google takes down Paytm from Play Store.
                     GOOGLE TAKES DOWN 
PAYTM FROM PLAY STORE
INTRODUCTION
• Paytm’s main app has been removed from the Google Play 
Store for the first time.
• While other applications such as its - wealth management 
app, Paytm money; merchant app, Paytm for Business; 
movie ticketing application, Paytm Insider, continue to be 
on the Play Store at present.
Source: India Today
STATEMENT BY GOOGLE
• Google has taken digital payments behemoth Paytm off its 
Play Store stating that the app was allowing customers to 
play online games, which facilitated sports betting.
Source: Dailyadda.com
GUIDELINES AGAINST GAMBLING POLICIES
• Google India as part of its blog released its new 
guidelines against gambling policies in the country.
• Google support only responsible gambling advertising 
and abide by local gambling laws and industry 
standards, so we don’t allow certain kinds of gambling-
related advertising. 
Source: YouTube
VIOLATION OF POLICIES
• Google has the same goals for gambling policy. It don’t allow 
online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps 
that facilitate sports betting. 
• This includes if an app leads consumer 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.
Source: India Today
PROTECT USERS
• Google also added that it has these policies to protect users 
from potential harm.
• Google want to support a healthy digital advertising 
ecosystem—one that is trustworthy and transparent, and 
works for users, advertisers, and publishers. 
Source: The Mobile Indian
ACTION FOR POLICY VIOLATION
• When an app violates the policies, Google notify the 
developer of the violation and remove the app from Google 
Play until the developer brings the app into compliance. 
• And in the case where there are repeated policy violations, 
Google may take more serious action which may include 
terminating Google Play Developer accounts. 
Source: Business Insider
POPULAR ONLINE GAMING PLATFORMS
• Most of the popular online gaming platforms, including 
Dream 11, WinZO and Mobile Premier League (MPL) 
which allow players to put in real money and then 
reward them with cash prizes, are either not listed or 
had been taken down from the Play Store.
Source: Sports Patrika
CASE OF MPL
• MPL was launched on Play Store in October 2018 and 
was taken off in May 2019.
• Even though MPL had two separate apps, where the app 
on Play Store was kept free to play and didn’t allow 
anyone to put in cash, the app was never re-instated.
Source: India Today
GOOGLE’S CONTROL OVER DIGITAL 
BANKING SERVICES IN INDIA
• Paytm is after all a digital banking service provider. If 
Google removed the app outright from the Play Store, it 
goes on to show the kind of power an American company has 
over Indian digital services.
Source: The Economic Times
THE POWER OF GOOGLE OVER THE INDIAN 
APP ECOSYSTEM
• This is not the first instance of an app being taken down from the Play Store by Google. A few 
weeks back another fintech app, Mobikwik, was taken down from the Play Store as well. 
Source: Mantra Labs