Google has reversed its earlier decision to pause RMG or real-money gaming expansion in Brazil. Now, Google will allow gambling apps on the Play Store, as long as operators are licensed under the country’s regulatory framework. The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) oversees this system. The move comes six months after Brazil officially launched its regulated betting market.
In Brazil, gambling-related apps will now be classified under four categories: lotteries, horse racing, betting tips, and daily fantasy sports. All app developers on the Play Store or use Google Ads services. This step is part of the broader strategy of SPA to push back illegal operators and consolidate the legal market.
With global real-money gaming policy of Google, this approach is consistent and has evolved gradually. In India, there is no central gambling regulator. Google has still allowed a pilot program that lets certain skill-based RMG apps like rummy, poker, and fantasy sports platforms such as Dream11. Yet, this pilot applies only to select states and includes strict conditions related to legality, age ratings, and user protection.
Unlike India, Brazil now has a unified national licensing framework, letting Google to offer a more structured rollout of gambling apps. Until just lately, only state-licensed lottery, as well as horse racing apps were available to users in Brazil. Google had briefly allowed wider access in early 2023 in anticipation of market regulation. Nevertheless, reversed course in June of the previous year, citing challenges in managing RMG in unregulated markets. Now, Google has lifted that pause.
As of today, the update only applies to Android users. In Brazil, Apple has not yet updated its App Store policies for the region. As a result, iOS users still won’t have access to these gambling apps.
Google’s decision highlights a global trend: access to real-money gaming is increasingly expanding in regions with strong regulatory oversight. Platforms like Google are adjusting their policies to support legal operators. They are also prioritizing user safety as countries like Brazil develop centralized regulatory frameworks.
