Starting on March 1, sportsbook apps will be accessible on the Google Play store in accordance with Google’s Developer Program Policy.
Currently, in states where it is legal, Google Play will offer online casino and poker apps. Illinois currently permits sports betting.
According to Google’s policy center, real-money gambling apps, advertisements related to real-money gambling, and daily fantasy sports apps that meet specific criteria are now permitted.
These apps are currently accessible on Apple devices and are expected to benefit sports betting operators in Illinois.
Currently, Android users must visit an operator’s website to download a sports betting app, which necessitates adjusting their security settings.
This change is expected to simplify the process for Android users to discover and install gambling apps.
The policy change was uncovered by Reuters on January 20th.
What Google now says about gambling apps
Google has revised its policy on gambling apps.
Apps that enable or facilitate online gambling are permitted in certain countries listed in the table below, subject to compliance with all Google Play policies. Developers must complete the application process for gambling apps on Play, be an approved governmental operator and/or registered as a licensed operator with the appropriate governmental gambling authority in the specified country, and provide a valid operating license for the type of online gambling product they wish to offer in that country.
Only licensed or authorized gambling apps with the specified types of online gambling products are permitted. Please refer to the table below for the approved types of gambling products in each country.
- Online casino games
- Lotteries
- Sports betting
- Daily fantasy sports
Illinois residents will have the opportunity to download the Illinois Lottery app from the Play store starting on March 1, in addition to sports betting apps.
Which sportsbook apps are currently in Illinois?
Illinois currently has five sportsbook apps available. These include:
DraftKings verified the information to our affiliate site, Online Poker Report, the previous week.
With the growth of sports betting and iGaming in the United States, we are thrilled to announce that DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino apps will be accessible for download on Google Play for Android users.
The stock price of DraftKings experienced a surge on Thursday following the news.
Penn National Gaming’s entry into the Illinois market is imminent, and Barstool is expected to follow suit within the next few months.
We anticipate the launch of BetMGM and Unibet in Illinois during the first half of 2021.
In November, Illinois recorded a sports betting handle of $449.2 million.
The impact of this news is still uncertain, but it is great news for both operators and Android users.
