Android Pay doesn't work on rooted devices

Google may have stepped on the toes of a few Android “power users” — i.e., those who root and ROM their devices — when they decided to exclude rooted devices (along with everyone outside the US) from joining in on the mobile payment party. The part that rustled feathers was the fact that, before Android Pay was introduced, Google Wallet was handling mobile payments just fine and played nice with all NFC-equipped Android devices whether you were stock, rooted, or running a custom ROM. So why not Android Pay?