Several online sports betting companies saw their stock price soar on Thursday, including DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) and Penn National Gaming, after Reuters discovered and revealed the changes made in Googlein (NASDAQ: GOOG) policies on January 20. These policy changes will allow companies to place gambling apps, including sports betting apps, on the Google Play Store, available to U.S. users.
DraftKings is preparing to seize the opportunity, according to a 9to5Google report. Up to this point, the DraftKings’ Sportsbook & Casino app was not available on Google Play, although it has been Applethe App Store, among other channels. However, on March 1, Google says that companies in “Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United States” can also list betting apps on Google Play.

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DraftKings says it will have its app listed and available on Google Play immediately after the rule change is implemented. Currently, only Google Play stores in Ireland, France, the UK and Brazil allow gambling apps to be listed. The DraftKings app, like all similar apps that will appear on the U.S. Play Store, will need to be free to qualify and will be listed as Adults Only, the most restrictive of the five ratings under which Google ranks apps.
DraftKings has continued to expand the availability of its sports betting services while legalization continues its march across the country. The company added its 12th status this week with its launch in Virginia. The company is also getting strongly optimistic evaluations from some analysts who believe it still has many advantages as more states approve of its style of play.