The CCI (Competition Commission of India) has initiated a new investigation into Google after receiving a complaint from the online gaming platform Winzo. The inquiry focuses on claims that Google’s app store policies violate antitrust laws and impose unfair restrictions on gaming apps featuring real money games via its Developer Distribution Agreement and Developer Program Policies. Also, these policies allegedly form one-sided relationships enabling developers to abode by the terms limiting their ability to fair operation in the market.
This development adds to Google's regulatory challenges in India, where it has already faced multiple penalties for exploiting its Android operating system market dominance.
The CCI has instructed its director general to complete the investigation and present a consolidated report within 60 days. The directive indicates that Google’s actions could potentially breach several provisions of Section 4 of the Competition Act, which pertains to the abuse of dominant market position, as reported by First Post.
WinZO, a platform offering real-money games, filed a complaint with the CCI (Competition Commission of India) in 2022 after the U.S.-based company's policy change continued to exclude WinZO from Google’s Play Store while allowing some of its competitors.
Google’s updated policy permitted real-money games for rummy and fantasy sports but excluded WinZO because it also featured games outside Google’s accepted categories, including puzzles, carrom, and car racing.
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