Apple deletes iGaming apps

Apple has removed licenced gaming apps from its App Store, although the company stated it was an accident.

US.- Licenced operators of the legal iGaming market worldwide have been affected by a measure taken by Apple, one of the leading communications’ providers across the world. According to international media, wrong iGaming apps were accidentally deleted by Apple operators from the App Store.

Experts considered Apple’s move to be a conscious measure to reduce the accepted gaming content in its services. The company has removed several online gaming apps and sent operators and app developers a message informing them Apple was making this move. Furthermore, Apple sent emails to its consumers to inform them they have deleted gambling-related apps made by individuals.

However, the removed apps did not “actually have any connection to gambling sites or companies,” as the international press informed. Therefore, Apple’s users and app developers expressed publicly their opposition to the move.

This week, the Norwegian Gaming Authority (NGA) celebrated finally persuading Apple to take down unlicensed gambling applications from the App Store. The regulatory body had requested the company remove several apps in order to help consumer protection and to comply with Norwegian gambling regulations. According to the NGA, App Store guidelines don’t allow gambling apps that don’t have the necessary licensing in the locations where the app is used and, in Norway, only Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are cleared to take online wagers.