Paytm app is back on Google Play Store

Update: And we’re back! 🥳

— Paytm (@Paytm) September 18, 2020

What did Paytm comment?

Commenting on the matter Paytm issued an official statement and said Google suspended the app as it violated Play Store policies on gambling. “We continue to work with Google to restore the app. We assure all our users that their balances and linked accounts are 100 per cent safe. Our services are fully functional on all existing apps and you can continue enjoying Paytm like before,” the company said.

Explained: Paytm goes from Play Store, how are you affected?

What is Google’s Play Store policy on gambling?

Google prohibits online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps on its play store. Even fantasy sports platforms like Dream 11 are kept out. The tech giant also reveals that an app that leads consumers to an external site that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to real money clearly violates Play Store policies.

In a blog post posted earlier on Friday, Google’s Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy explains, “We don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers 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.”

Frey notes, “We have these policies to protect users from potential harm. When an app violates these policies, we notify the developer of the violation and remove the app from Google Play until the developer brings the app into compliance.”

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“In the case where there are repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced on all developers consistently,” Frey further states.

Commenting on the matter, Akash Karmakar of Panag and Babu Law Offices, who represents various tech and app companies said, “While PayTM did not directly engage in, or promote sports betting or gambling, it did have links to third-party sites which did. The ease of using PayTM on these third-party apps may have been viewed by Google as the element which makes PayTM as supporting these sites. Google appears to have taken an ethical stand against apps that promote or even advertise unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. Since many other apps are also promoting betting and gambling websites through ads and pop-ups, if Google applies the same standard, I would expect more apps will get taken off the Play Store.”