Why Indian Fantasy Platforms Are Not on Google Playstore | But PlayCKC is
₹1,94,04,37,50,000* — That is the number the Indian fantasy sports industry is expected to reach this year. This industry, we are told, is growing at a compound annual rate of 32%. Huge, right?
The interesting thing to note here is that Indian fantasy sports platforms are not on Google’s Playstore. Yeah, look up Dream11 there. You won’t find it. Why though?
Let’s look at how the fantasy format functions. Gamers pay to participate in contests. A prize pool gets created. The fantasy platform takes from it a commission of 15–20%. The rest, 80–85% is distributed among the winners. The platform also expects and encourages gamers to submit multiple entries in a contest, thereby seeking multiple contributions. Typically, the higher the investment (=entries), the higher the chances of winning. Huge monetary rewards announced by fantasy platforms are akin to the announcement of lottery rewards.
Now, this is precisely why those ads you see during IPL matches conclude with a disclaimer: This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk.
This disclaimer has been mandated by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for advertisements relating to online gaming, fantasy sports, etc.
So, why are Dream11 and its slightly less-popular cousins not on the biggest Android app store, the Google Playstore? The aforementioned risk keeps these apps away from Google. Yes, Google does not allow pay-and-play platforms in India. What about the iOS app though? Apple has no such qualms.
So, how does PlayCKC exist on the Google PlayStore?
PlayCKC brings in two gaming formats to the sports fan. One is called PlayCKC PREDICT and the other is called PlayCKC SELECT. PlayCKC offers both gaming formats FREE. Yes, it’s not pay-and-play but all free-to-play for the Android users accessing the app via Google’s Playstore. PlayCKC’s iOS version on Apple’s App Store has both free as well as real-money versions. The Android real-money gaming version is available on PlayCKC’s website.
But what does a free game get the gamers?
Loads. PlayCKC has been created for sports fans, not lottery enthusiasts. Gamers earn nanyas (in-game currency) on PlayCKC which they redeem against Amazon Pay gift cards or other popular gift cards and vouchers. There are real rewards on fans’ real-world behaviour. More on the gaming formats soon.
[*₹1,94,04,37,50,000 = $2.5 billion | FICCI-EY report: The Indian fantasy sports industry to touch $2.5 billion in 2022.]
