The app was back on the Google Play store on Friday night after Softbank-backed Paytm removed the ‘refund’ feature from a recently released game in the app.
“Update – and we’re back!” Paytm said in a tweet.
On Friday morning, Google removed the Paytm app, which makes it easy to use payment and wallet banking services, from the Play Store.
However, users who had already downloaded the application could continue to use the services.
“The app was blocked for violating Play policies, a clarification of our policy was released today prior to the IPL tournament,” Google said in an emailed response, adding that only the app’s availability on the Play Store was affected. .
Google, in a blog post earlier on Friday, had said that it does not allow apps that facilitate sports betting and will remove such apps from the Play Store.
These policies are in place to protect users from potential harm, he added.
“We do not allow online casinos or support unregulated gambling applications that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an application takes consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes. , it’s a violation of our policies, “the blog post read.
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said the company has already removed scratch cards that offered rebates, meeting Google’s concerns.
Stating that Google was not allowing it to acquire new customers by blocking the Paytm promotion, Sharma said India needs support to further grow the startup ecosystem.
“(Platforms like Google) are dominating the platforms and with power comes responsibility. I think they should be responsible for the growth and startup ecosystem of this country … The Indian ecosystem needs support, not stifle innovation.” he told news channel CNBC-TV18. .
A Paytm spokesperson said the company had recently launched ‘Paytm Cricket League’ on its consumer app for users to engage in their passion for cricket and get cash back.
“The game allows users to obtain player stickers after each transaction, collect them and get Paytm Cashback. Cashback is legal in India and we strictly follow all the rules and laws of the country.
“Unfortunately, Google believes this is a violation of its policies and has hidden the Paytm app for Android in the Play Store,” the spokesperson told PTI.
The spokesperson added that the money back feature was removed and confirmed that the app was restored on the Play Store.
Google, in its blog post, had said that when an app violates its policies, it notifies the developer of the violation and removes the app from Google Play until the developer complies.
“And in the event of repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action, which may include termination of Google Play developer accounts.
“Our policies are applied and enforced by all developers consistently,” said Suzanne Frey, Vice President of Product for Android Security and Privacy, blog post.
There is often an increase in launches of these types of applications before big sports tournaments like the IPL.
The final season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to begin on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, Sonam Chandwani, Managing Partner at KS Legal & Associates, said: “The enforcement of Google’s policy compliance one day before the IPL is scheduled to begin, is a pre-emptive attempt by Google to reset and remind the developers their strict gaming policies. ”
He said that in India, the legislation totally prohibits sports betting, but fantasy sports are not illegal in most states.
“However, Google’s policies will have a general implication in the applications of its Play Store.
“An undetermined implication would be the compliance of their policies by sports fantasy applications such as Dream 11 and MPL that are not directly available on the Google Play Store platform, but that appear in advertisements and induce a similar effect on their user, which it eventually leads to a violation of their gaming policies, “he noted.
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