Google’s Android app store is finally relaxing its longstanding ban on gambling and betting apps, according to reports on a UK tech site.

Google’s Android operating system is by far the planet’s dominant mobile platform, but unlike rival Apple’s iOS, the Google Play marketplace had until now wanted nothing to do with real-money gambling, leaving Android users with no option but to download apps direct from gambling sites, which limited the apps’ potential exposure to new customers, as well as developers’ ability to push updates.

On Tuesday, UK-based digital agency Degree53 – whose clients include Betfred, 888 Holdings and OddsChecker – reported that Google had been emailing gambling operators to alert them that they needed to prepare for an imminent seismic shift in Google Play’s gambling policy.

According to Degree53’s Andrew Daniels, Google is informing gaming firms that “beginning of August 2017, Google will accept applications for the distribution of gambling apps within the Play store in the United Kingdom, France and the Republic of Ireland. At a later date, this policy change may be expanded to new regions and countries.“