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The antitrust probe against Google regarding its dealings with the real-money games app has been concluded by India’s competition commission, as the online gambling ban in India has completely transformed the relevant market involved.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) came to the conclusion that it would serve no purpose to continue with the proceedings, as it would not be possible to grant the relief sought originally. This is due to the passage into law of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, and its rules from May 1, 2026.
The new law makes it illegal to conduct, advertise, and facilitate payments for online money games without making any distinction between skill games and chance games. This legal overhaul effectively rendered the antitrust case moot, as the market conditions that gave rise to the complaint no longer exist.
WinZO’s Original Complaint
WinZO Games, an Indian online gaming platform where people can wager real money, made this allegation against Google in the year 2022. The company said a pilot allowing only daily fantasy sports and rummy apps onto the Play Store excluded other real-money gaming products.
CCI has taken the step of ordering a thorough investigation in November 2024 on the basis of a prima facie view that Google has violated the norms of competition law, as mentioned by Business Standard, quoting CCI’s order. This is an important development in this matter as the regulator made efforts to investigate the conduct of Google.
During the investigation, Google proposed allowing permissible skill-based real-money games and related advertising, subject to certification. This proposal suggested that the company was willing to adjust its policies to address the regulator’s concerns.
Legal Changes Reshape the Market
However, India’s new online gaming legislation changed the landscape entirely. The Online Gaming Regulation and Promotion Act, 2025 had brought about a complete prohibition on all online games with monetary prizes, irrespective of the element of luck or skill in the game.
Google had already discontinued its pilot program for real-money games and stopped accepting advertising for such games in January. This implied that by the time CCI came to its conclusion, these practices no longer existed.
WinZO sought to withdraw its complaint during an August 25 hearing, recognizing that the legal environment had shifted. The company’s withdrawal request reflected the reality that the market it had complained about no longer existed in the same form.
CCI’s Independent Decision
The CCI said it was not required to close the case solely at WinZO’s request, but independently concluded that continuing the proceedings would serve no useful purpose. This underscores the regulator’s autonomy in deciding whether to pursue investigations, even when complainants withdraw.
The regulator said it could examine Google’s conduct again if the law is stayed, overturned, or repealed, and the alleged anticompetitive practices reappear. This leaves the door open for future action should the legal landscape change once more.
The CCI’s decision highlights how quickly regulatory environments can shift in India’s gaming sector. What began as an antitrust investigation into Google’s policies ended up being overtaken by broader legislative changes.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
