Paytm Removed From Google Play Store

• Paytm Removed From Google Play Store App Download For Pc
• Paytm Deleted From Google Play Store
• Paytm Removed From Google Play Store List

Paytm Removed From Google Play Store App Download For Pc

Paytm and Paytm First Games apps have been pulled for violating Google’s gambling policies.

Digital payments and mobile wallet platform Paytm has been pulled from the Google Play Store for violating Google’s gambling policies. In an update on Friday, Google said that it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This comes after Paytm's gaming arm Paytm First Games (PFG) was gearing up for fantasy cricket ahead of the Indian Premier League.

Paytm, which promotes fantasy sports services within its marquee app, repeatedly violated the policies of the Play Store, stated two sources. Additionally, Paytm’s fantasy sports service, Paytm First Games, was also removed from the Play Store for the same reasons. Google stated that if an app leads consumers to an external app or website. It seems Google has removed Paytm from the Play Store for promoting gambling. As per a report by TechCrunch, Google said that “Play Store prohibits online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting in India.” The removal of Paytm from the Google Play Store comes just a day before the start of IPL 2020 in India. Google on Friday (18 September 2020) has reportedly removed the popular payments and e-wallet app Paytm from Google Play Store. Google claims that the apps prohibit Play Store policy by processing gambling and betting related payments. Paytm’s other proprietary android apps including Paytm for Business, Paytm Money, Paytm Mall, Paytm Instore.

Paytm recently launched the ‘Paytm Cricket League’ on the main app where users could get player stickers after each transaction, collect them and receive Paytm Cashback.

According to Google, even 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 its policies.

Soon after the app was taken down, Paytm tweeted saying the Android app is temporarily unavailable on Google's Play Store for new downloads or updates. 'It will be back very soon. All your money is completely safe, and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal,' it said.

Paytm Deleted From Google Play Store

Paytm said in a statement that it received communication from Google on Friday afternoon that it is suspending Paytm app because it believes this to be a violation of their Play Store policies on gambling. The Paytm Android app has thus been unlisted from Google’s Play Store and is temporarily unavailable to users for new downloads or updates.

“While it is clear that all activities on Paytm are completely lawful, we have temporarily removed the cashback component in an effort to meet the Play Store policy requirements,” Paytm said in a statement.

“We continue to work with Google to restore the app. We assure all our users that their balances and linked accounts are 100% safe. Our services are fully functional on all existing apps and you can continue enjoying Paytm like before,” it added.

This comes a day ahead of the Indian Premier League, a period which is set to see the fantasy gaming market surge with cricket fans betting on their favourite players, creating fantasy teams as offered by several gaming apps in the country.

Paytm Removed From Google Play Store List

Ahead of the IPL, Paytm’s gaming arm Paytm First Games has announced Sachin Tendulkar as the brand ambassador of the platform and also said that it set aside Rs 300 crore to spend on marketing and promotions. In April, Paytm First Games had announced that it had had 5 million downloads during the lockdown. At the time, it said it had half a million daily active users.

In the fintech space, Paytm was reportedly the sixth-most downloaded app in August, with 6.7 million people downloading the app. It reportedly has over 450 million users overall.

Paytm First Games reportedly has over 50 games, with fantasy sports being most popular. As per reports, it has over 80 million users with the majority of them from smaller cities and towns.

Google said that its policy is in place 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. And 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,” the Google statement further added.

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• Google removed the Paytm app from the Play Store earlier in the day.
• It’s one of the largest mobile payment platforms in India.
• Paytm claims Google’s flouted competition rules.

Update: September 18, 2020 (11:30 AM ET): The main Paytm payments app is now back on the Google Play Store. However, the Paytm First Games app is still down. One97 Communications — the company that owns Paytm — has now hit back at Google. It claims (via Bloomberg) that Google violated competition rules by removing Paytm from the Play Store.

“They have all the levers and can decide which app can be brought down and when. How is that not a problem?” Madhur Deora, President, One97 Communications told Bloomberg. “You’ve got a player which regulates India’s digital ecosystem while competing with many companies in the same ecosystem,” he added.

Original article: September 18, 2020 (5:58 AM ET): Google has pulled the Paytm app from the Play Store citing policy violations. The mobile payments app can no longer be downloaded from the Google Play Store, but if you already have it, it should work just fine.

Paytm is one of India’s most popular, if not the biggest, online payments and money transfer platforms. According to its data, the Paytm app has over 200 million active users, eclipsing the user base of competitors like Google Pay and PhonePe. It’s also the most valued Indian startup with names like Softbank, Berkshire Hathaway, SAIF Partners, and others backing it.

In a blog post released today, Google said that it doesn’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,” the company noted.

The reason for Paytm’s removal?

The Paytm app repeatedly violated these policies, sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. The trouble started after Paytm launched a Cricket League Contest on its app that allowed users to win stickers and then exchange them for cash. Even though Google’s own payments app runs similar scratch-and-win promotions, the Paytm app was found to be violating Play Store policies and was booted from it alongside the Paytm First Games app.

Google warned in its blog post that “in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we [Google] may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts.”

Paytm, meanwhile, has promised that its app will be back very soon. In a tweet, the company assured that “all your money is completely safe and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal.”

Google has also reportedly asked Disney Plus Hotstar to display a warning before running ads for fantasy sports apps.