Last week, Google announced the pilot launch of daily fantasy sports and rummy to be listed on its Play Store in India. In response, WinZo has filed a case against Google in the Delhi High Court, accusing Google of unfairly favoring these two categories and interfering with business.
WinZo seeks injunction against Google’s Play Store pilot
Region-specific gaming platform, WinZo, is seeking legal action against Google’s recent decision to include daily fantasy sports and rummy in a pilot project on the company’s Play Store.
Saumya points out that the policy is unfair and restrictive, because it excludes a large sector of real-money games that have been classified as games of skill. Ranging from eSports to poker, these are games which charge an entry fee from players rather than relying exclusively on advertising revenue.
According to the court, Google must halt a unilateral classification system that would negatively impact businesses. The hearing for the case is scheduled for Wednesday.
“The Supreme Court has found that games of skill are constitutional and legal, but by including certain games which have been challenged in court (as games of skill), the other players are put in a non-complimentary position and the market is distorted.”
Google did not comment on a recent allegation
For years, Google has allowed no games in India that involved money. This month, it announced that it would allow fantasy sports and rummy games to be on the Play Store for a year-long pilot that starts on September 28th.
These apps are available on either Apple, Mi and Samsung
Google said that it recategorized games in two categories: games with knowledge of athletic events and athletes and card games. It did not mention how other types of games would be categorized.
Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation, said that Google should expand the scope of its gaming project to include all games with skill among the pilot projects. Roland had this to say when Google announced their gaming pilot program.