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"We don't allow online casinos or support any unregulated
gambling apps that facilitate sports betting," the U.S. tech
company said in a blog post.
"This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website
that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real
money or cash prizes," said Alphabet Inc's Google, in the blog
post. "It is a violation of our policies."
The blog post did not name Paytm, but Google separately
confirmed the removal for policy violations.
A Paytm spokesman also confirmed that Google had removed its
app.
Launched a decade ago as a platform for mobile recharging, Paytm
grew quickly after ride-hailing firm Uber listed it as a quick
payment option. Its use swelled further in 2016 when India
banned certain high-value currency notes, causing an immense
shortage of currency in the economy for months.
It currently competes with global players such Google Pay and
Walmart's PhonePe in India's digital payments market which is
set to more than double in value to $135 billion by 2023 from
2019, according to PwC and Indian lobby group ASSOCHAM.
The company had not breached Google policies but was running an
offer that gave its users stickers, for payments and money
transfers, which could then be used to redeem cashbacks - a move
Google deemed as gambling, the Paytm spokesman told Reuters.
Paytm has since removed the promotion from its app, he added.
Google did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment
on how Paytm's cashback offer violated its policies.
Paytm said on Twitter it was working with Google to restore the
Andriod app and assured users that their money was safe.
(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Christian
Schmollinger, Kirsten Donovan)
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