Google Now Permits Android Apps That Facilitate Gambling With Real Money (betanews.com)

Mark Wilson shares a report from BetaNews: Google has relaxed its rules surrounding real-money gambling apps in Google Play -- in some countries, at least. There has been a ban on apps and games that allow users to gamble with real money since 2013, but that has now changed. While there was previously a ban in place due to the difficulty in policing ages and complying with different gambling laws around the world, real-money gambling apps are now permitted in the UK, France and Ireland. The new rules stipulate that developers must submit their gambling apps for a special vetting process, and they must have an IARC content rating. Other rules include a ban on the use of Google payment services, a requirement to display information about responsible gambling, and a requirement to block underage use. The full list of requirements [can be viewed here].

Comments

Re:Only Gambling When Odds Equal

[Anonymous Coward]

The house always wins and that is the only way a gambling house can exist.

If the odds were actually fully equal then the house would on average have no income but would need to pay for the building, furniture, staff, etc. Between mandating this and just declaring them illegal is no real difference.

What needs to be mandated is that the odds are fully transparent and no actual cheating is going on.

Oh, that's hilarious.

[jcr]

Gambling on an unsecurable platform? What could go wrong?

-jcr