Global Android phone user market size
In the mobile device market, Android undoubtedly occupies the largest market share. According to Statista, as of 2024, there will be more than 3 billion Android users worldwide, accounting for more than 70% of the global smartphone market. Such a huge user base provides a broad potential market for various applications, especially in the entertainment and gaming industries.
Which countries/regions can list gambling apps directly on Google Play?
Although there are many Android users around the world, not all countries and regions allow gambling applications to be directly listed on Google Play. PASA Global Get Rich Industry Information Platform learned that according to the latest Google Play market policy in July 2024, the following 37 countries and regions are currently allowed to publish gambling applications, but there are specific restrictions:
Australia
Sports betting (and daily fantasy sports, where permitted by local regulations) and lottery apps are permitted, subject to application and licensing requirements.
Austria
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in regions where such regulation and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries (government-operated organizations only) are allowed.
Belgium
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries (government operations only) are allowed.
Brazil
Apps for horse racing, lottery, and fixed-odds betting (including sports betting) are allowed.
Bulgaria
Apps for online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), horse racing (in regions where relevant regulatory and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries are permitted.
Canada
Online casino games (government-operated only), sports betting (government-operated only), and lotteries (government-operated only) apps are allowed in all provinces except Ontario. Ontario allows apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries (government-operated only).
Colombia
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries (government operations only) are allowed.
Croatia
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
Czech Republic
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in countries where the relevant regulation and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries are allowed.
Denmark
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
Ethiopia
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
Finland
Online casino games, sports betting and lotteries are allowed, but only for government-run operations.
France
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in regions where such regulation and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries (government-operated organizations only) are allowed.
Germany
Apps for sports betting, horse racing (in regions where such regulation and licensing rules are separate from those for sports betting), and lotteries (government operators and affiliated contracted operators only) are allowed.
Ghana
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
Greece
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and lotteries are allowed.
Hungary
Apps that feature online casino games and sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulation permits) are allowed.
Ireland
Apps featuring online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries (government or charitable operations only) are allowed.
Japan
Sports betting (horse racing, boat racing, bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, and soccer lotteries operated by government operators only) and lotteries (government operators only) apps are allowed.
Kenya
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in countries where the relevant regulation and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries are allowed.
Mexico
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
Netherlands
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and horse racing (in regions where the relevant regulatory and licensing rules are separate from those for sports betting) are permitted.
New Zealand
Sports betting and lotteries are allowed, but only by government-run organizations.
Nigeria
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in regions where such regulation and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations permit) are permitted.
Norway
Online casino games, sports betting and lotteries are allowed, but only for government-run operations.
Panama
Apps for online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), horse racing (in regions where relevant regulatory and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries are permitted.
Portugal
Apps are allowed to publish online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in regions with regulatory and licensing rules separate from sports betting), and lotteries (only approved apps published by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa).
Romania
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries (government operations only) are allowed.
Serbia
Apps for online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), and lotteries (government-operated organizations only) are allowed.
Slovakia
Apps for online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), horse racing (in regions where relevant regulatory and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries are permitted.
Spain
Apps for online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), horse racing (in regions where such regulation and licensing rules are separate from sports betting), and lotteries (government-operated organizations only) are allowed.
Sweden
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries (government operations only) are allowed.
Switzerland
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
Tanzania
Apps that feature online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), and lotteries are allowed.
Türkiye
Apps for online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are allowed.
U.K.
Apps that feature online casino games, sports betting (including daily fantasy sports where local regulations allow), and lotteries are allowed.
USA
Applications for online casino games, sports betting, horse racing (in countries where relevant regulatory and licensing rules are separate from sports betting) and lotteries are permitted subject to applicable licenses in certain states where permitted by law. Daily fantasy sports may be regulated as gambling in some U.S. states; all daily fantasy sports apps must comply with Google's Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) app requirements.
Latest Google Play market policy information: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/12256011
Benefits of listing on Google Play
Global Coverage
As one of the world's largest Android app stores, Google Play has a wide coverage, and listing gambling apps can quickly reach a large number of users around the world.
User Trust
Apps listed through Google Play are generally considered safer and more trustworthy by users because Google conducts security audits.
Convenient payment methods
Google Play provides a variety of payment methods so that users can easily make in-app purchases, improving user experience and app profitability.
Efficient distribution channels
Google Play provides an efficient application distribution channel, and developers can use its powerful distribution capabilities to quickly promote applications to target users.
Data analysis and feedback
Google Play provides detailed user data analysis and feedback functions. Developers can use this data to optimize applications and improve user satisfaction and retention rates.
Conclusion
By listing gambling applications on Google Play, operators can not only enjoy extensive market coverage and user trust, but also take advantage of its convenient payment methods and efficient distribution channels to quickly increase the application's popularity and profitability. This certainly provides an excellent platform for gambling operators.
