The scrutiny surrounding digital platforms and their policies continues to intensify as regulatory bodies take action to promote fairness. In a recent development, the Competition Commission of India has initiated an inquiry into the stringent policies enforced by Google regarding real-money gaming applications.

On Thursday, the Indian regulatory body mandated an investigation into the limitations set by Google concerning real-money gaming on its services. This action was prompted by a complaint from WinZO, an online gaming platform, alleging that these policies are discriminatory.

This move adds to the challenges Google faces in India, where it has previously encountered fines for exploiting its significant influence in the Android operating system arena.

At present, Google has yet to provide a response to inquiries made following the close of business hours in India, particularly given the ongoing Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

WinZO, which provides real-money gaming options, initially sought the assistance of the Competition Commission of India in 2022. They contended that revisions in Google's gaming app regulations have continued to block their presence on the Play Store, while allowing some of their competitors on the platform.

The revised policy from Google permits real-money gaming solely for categories like fantasy sports and rummy. However, WinZO faced rejection due to its inclusion of other game types, such as carrom, puzzles, and car racing, which do not meet Google’s current acceptance criteria.

A pertinent excerpt from the CCI order argues that by favoring specific categories of apps, Google is creating a market environment that disadvantages certain developers, leading to unequal access and reduced visibility.

A CCI representative is anticipated to conclude the investigation within a span of 60 days.