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Big news for Android users today. DraftKings is officially listed in the Google Play Store app marketplace. This is a big shake-up for the sports betting industry. Operators were previously limited to offering a side-load option for Android devices.
Why Is This A Big Deal?
DraftKings’ arrival in the Google Play Store means the floodgates have opened, and Android users will soon be able to download all of their favorite apps directly from Google’s proprietary marketplace.
For the past three years, sports betting has slowly proliferated across the US. In just the first three months of 2021, multiple states have introduced legislation that would authorize sports betting in some capacity. In other words, new sports betting markets are constantly opening up in the US. By extension, more players than ever are signing up for betting accounts.
But there’s been a crucial catch. Since PASPA’s repeal in 2018 (which allowed states to legalize sports betting on an individual basis), Google has prohibited regulated gambling apps from its marketplace. Only Daily Fantasy Sports sites were available, sometimes causing confusion for hopeful sports bettors who downloaded the wrong app.
Instead, hopeful bettors had to side-load sports betting apps, getting them directly from the operator outside of Google’s official marketplace. It wasn’t a terribly difficult process, but new users could easily find the steps confusing or suspicious.
Now, though, bettors can snag the app directly from Google Play Store just as they would with any other application.
New Betting Surge Possible?
We’re now entering the realm of speculation, but as data emerges from operators in the coming months, look for boosts in betting activity, Daily Active User numbers, and handle.
DraftKings certainly won’t be the last operator to launch on Google Play. Once other operators clear Google’s regulations for gambling apps, they’ll launch in droves. And it’s very likely that this easier access to the app will bring more players to mobile sports betting via Android devices.
Time will tell whether this sparks meaningful increases, but our wager is that it’s pretty likely.
