Google Pay Diwali stamps and scratch cards banned in this Indian state

In what could be b news for Google Pay users in Tamil Nu, Google's UPI payments app has stopped offering all form of rewards including scratch cards and Diwali stamps in state of Tamil Nu. So if you are in Chennai or any part of Tamil Nu for that matter, you will longer receive any form of Google Pay rewards. According to reports, Google Pay violates lottery ban rule in Tamil Nu. In 2003, Tamil Nu's former chief minister J Jayalalithaa cracked down on sale of all forms of lotteries across state, including online, in an attempt to keep people away from gambling.

How does Tamil Nu's ban on lotteries apply to Google Pay?

While state authorities believe Google Pay rewards work in a similar fashion like lottery and gambling where people are encourd to take chances for a reward, Google argues restricting digital products on grounds of a lottery ban is t as simple as imposing restrictions on a physical (offline) distribution networks, citing 'global scope' for digital products. search giant also ded altering consumer experience for select users is 'far more complicated' since that user experience is delivered on mobile devices which is accessible from anywhere in country.

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How does this affect Google Pay and its users?

As part of its rewards program, Google Pay users can play games and receive special offers and scratch cards resulting in cash rewards. In June, Google Pay introduced a mobile Cricket game called Tez Shots. It allowed users to score runs and win scratch cards. However, game was t available for Google Pay users Tamil Nu. In terms and conditions of Tez Shots, Google Pay mentions: "This offer is t available to residents of state of Tamil Nu (as per Tamil Nu Prize Scheme (Prohibition) Act 1979) and wherever else prohibited by Law. Residents of se states should t participate in this offer."

Google Pay rewards are one of reasons why re's been a stey increase in terms of number of transactions on app. w that Google has decided to stop offering rewards to its users in Tamil Nu, re is a possibility that company might witness a decline in number of transactions, at least in Tamil Nu.

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