Apple Store Gambling Policy

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Apple blazed the trail where Android came up short, in allowing gambling apps on its App Store platform. Until relatively recently, the Google Play Store was a no-go zone for apps from gambling operators, before allowing apps by direct link, and then ultimately adopting a more liberal approach. This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes only. Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations captured in an electronic forum and Apple can therefore provide no guarantee as to the. Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between 10 November and 25 December 2020 may be returned up to 8 January 2021. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased.

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Apple has a history of being anti-gambling. It has frequently pulled apps in countries where gambling is banned or heavily restricted. Last summer, the tech giant pulled an estimated 25,000 gambling apps from its App Store in China. Gambling is illegal in China, except in Macau where there are licensed casinos. Apple promotes, enables, and profits from games downloaded from its App Store and played by numerous Ohio residents that constitute illegal gambling under the statutory law and the strong public.

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Each day is a new beginning, as for the gambling industry each day brings new provocations or unwelcome situations. This time the troubles come from the new policy imposed by the Apple Store.

Apple had a perfectly clear position towards gambling apps in the past, but the new rules could overturn the gambling industry. The change in concept is supposed to have a strong impact on sports betting and real-money games.

The problematic issue relates to Guideline 4.7. of the Review Guidelines, that “HTML5 games distributed in apps may not provide access to real money gaming, lotteries, or charitable donations.” The Guideline also completes that “this functionality is only appropriate for code that’s embedded in the binary and can be reviewed by Apple.” Important that the new gambling apps have to be revised for publication in Apple’s App Store. As for the existing apps, the operators have to make sure they comply with the Guideline policy by September 3, 2019.

App Store Native Functionality

Apple keeps a good reputation and tries to be unique with regards to the gambling market. In this direction, the reviewed guideline submits strict rules for gambling publications.

As usual, the gaming developers use websites as apps through HTML5 technologies to publish their products. It is evident that sports betting and online casino apps are coded with HTML5 as a mobile version of a website and is not solely created for Apple platform and iOS devices.

From now on operators have to meet the guideline requirement in order to publish in the App Store – which means all the gambling apps have to be developed natively for iOS.

Gambling

To conclude, all the new apps shall comply with the new rules, being developing automatically for iOS. Otherwise, the apps not native to iOS risk to be rejected from Apple Store on the deadline date.

Apple Trap for Online Gambling Apps

The new guideline was updated to develop the Apple platform and protect the consumers. Nevertheless, the mobile gambling industry is eventually cornered by the new policy. Despite the fact the native apps requested by Apple has many strengths, such as quick loading, individualization and new gaming performances, they are quite difficult to be drafted, requiring development costs. In this way, powerful providers could finance their projects as required the new guideline, while for the small companies the new rules could be a total failure.

Apple Store Gambling Policy Online

Additionally the remained three months predetermined by Apple are not enough for many developers to comply the new strategies.

Store

In consequences, big fish eats small fish, and little companies can miss a large customer.

However, Apple remains on its strict position: if operators choose to remain in App Store, they should respect the new rules.

Under the Play Pennsylvania report, the online sports betting and online casino gaming in Pennsylvania were not launched because of the Apple’s Guideline.

Apple Store Gambling Policy Template

Nevertheless, SugarHouse Casino launched the state’s first sportsbook In May 2019, which would be broadcasted live with online gaming.

Apple Store Gambling Policy 2019

Early this year many European gambling operators proclaimed having difficulties to publish their apps in App Store, hoping to remove them from Guideline 4.2: Minimum Functionality of the App Store Review Guidelines, which reads that an app “should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website.”