In 2025, Google blocked more than 1.75 million malicious or non-compliant apps before they could be published on the Play Store.
The move directly affects the online gambling industry, which is increasingly exposed to fraudulent apps, unauthorized platforms, and tools designed to bypass controls.
According to the latest Android and Google Play security update, many of the rejected apps were linked to malware, financial fraud, aggressive data collection, and hidden subscription abuse.
Among the most sensitive categories are gambling and real-money gaming apps, where the risk for users is twofold: financial losses and compromised personal data.
Stricter Controls for High-Risk Gambling Apps
Google also banned more than 80,000 developer accounts classified as “repeat offenders,” preventing them from re-entering the ecosystem under new identities.
Each app is now subject to more than 10,000 security checks, combining automated analysis with human review.
New generative AI models integrated into the process can identify complex patterns and suspicious permission use.
For the digital gambling industry, tighter controls are highly significant. In recent years, there has been a surge in apps promising bonuses, boosted odds, or access to gaming platforms, while in reality hiding scams, phishing attempts, or fund diversion schemes. This is exactly why users increasingly look for trusted guides and verified payment options, including resources such as bonus crab casino paysafecard.
Data Protection and User Safety in Online Gaming
The preventive blocking of these apps reduces the risk of unauthorized operators spreading through official stores and using that visibility to appear legitimate in the eyes of consumers.
At the same time, Google prevented more than 255,000 apps from obtaining excessive access to sensitive data by enforcing stricter permission policies. This issue is crucial in online gaming, where financial information, identity documents, and spending-related data are routinely processed.
In this context, transparency and platform trust matter more than ever, and many users compare offer quality and retention value before signing up — especially through pages focused on best casino rewards.
Minors Protection and APK Sideloading Crackdown
Another front concerns the protection of minors. The company introduced additional filtering steps to prevent children from discovering or downloading apps in categories considered high-risk, including gambling.
As for active security, Play Protect — Android’s built-in defense system — scans more than 350 billion apps every day, both from the Play Store and from external sources.
In 2025 alone, more than 27 million fake apps distributed outside the official store were identified.
In addition, 266 million sideloading attempts were blocked, involving around 872,000 high-risk apps. In the gambling sector, some illegal offers circulate through channels outside the official store, using APK files distributed on unverified websites.
