Paytm and other tech startups in India conducted a video conference last Tuesday to discuss a national alternative to Google Play. Google responded to Paytm's claim and released a statement saying “offering cashbacks and vouchers alone do not constitute a violation of our Google Play gambling policies.” It also underlined that in the case of repeated policy violations, “more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts” could be taken. However, Paytm hit back at Google shortly after its regular app came back on the Play store and claimed that particularly its regular app was removed due to offering cashbacks. The US giant initially didn't provide any clarity on the removal, though it redirected media queries to a blog post that highlighted its gambling policies. On September 18, Google had pulled the Paytm and Paytm First Games apps from the Play store. “The arbitrary (and self-serving) policies of Google, and their arbitrary interpretation of these policies is a dangerous, and extra-judicial, enforcement of monopolistic powers, against the interest of developers and users,” the company noted in the blog post.
#Paytm app logo free#
But it will freely allow YouTube to promote our free app, for a fee,” the company said in the blog post.Īdditionally, Paytm First Games stated that while Google blocked fantasy gaming, it is a “completely legal business” in the country.
#Paytm app logo pro#
To put it simply, Play Store will ban the Paytm app or the Paytm First Games app if we promote our pro app.
“While Google does not allow us to promote our pro app on our own free app or Paytm app, we can promote it on Google and YouTube by paying hefty fees to Google. Paytm First Games available via Google Play (left) doesn't ask for real cash, but its pro version (right) does ask The company also alleged a “dichotomy” between Google Play's policies and Google's ads business. The pro version, which is essentially what Paytm has on Google Play earlier, lets you add real money via UPI, cards, or netbanking to a deposit account, which isn't available on the Google Play version.
#Paytm app logo download#
The company, owned by Noida-based One97 Communications, stated that it had brought back the app with free fantasy sports, while its pro version is available for download directly through the Paytm First Games website. However, in a blog post published on Wednesday, Paytm First Games announced the comeback of its app on Google Play. Gadgets 360 reached out to both Google and Paytm for comment on Tuesday but neither company has made an official comment. This is unlike the earlier Paytm First Games app that involved real cash transactions for playing fantasy games. While removing the Paytm First Games and Paytm apps from the Play store, Google highlighted that its policies didn't allow “casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting, including daily fantasy sports,” in the country.Īs a result, Paytm now has Paytm First Games on Google Play, which doesn't ask for real cash but has a bonus account that adds bonuses from previous bids. The Paytm app was reinstated on the same day, and Paytm First Games has eventually made a number of changes to come back as well. Paytm First Games is back on Google Play two weeks after the app was pulled alongside the Paytm app.