Apple rates gambling apps 17+
The tech giant Apple has announced that it has rated all gambling apps as 17+ as of August 20, 2019.
US.- Apple has targeted gambling apps yet again as it has changed its rating for them. All apps featuring frequent or intense simulated gambling are now 17+, starting August 20, 2019.
The company wants the App Store to be “a safe place for kids,” which is why it enforced such changes.
Gambling apps involved are: Apps in the Casino subcategory and Apps in the Games or Entertainment categories. The latter involves those with Frequent/Intense simulated gambling.
Those with gambling apps on those categories will need to enter a Rating Classification Number from the Game Rating and Administration Committee in App Store Connect.
Recent blow
Apple slapped mobile gaming operators with a tough regulation update that endangers their business. As of September 3, all companies must redevelop their apps to be specifically crafted for iOS.
Most mobile gaming operators repack their websites to work as apps but will no longer be able to do so. As only apps developed specifically for said operative system will be allowed in the AppStore, they’ll have to rework them.
HTML5 games distributed within apps “may not provide access to real money gaming, lotteries, or charitable donations,” guidelines say. “They also may not support digital commerce.”
Earlier in 2019, operators were required to have apps with a “minimal level of nativity”. That meant sportsbooks, casinos, bingo and lotteries have to stop with the repacking system.
“Mobile gaming operators may need to invest lots of money and time to comply before the deadline,” Agency Decree 53 states. “Three months to build a fully-featured native sportsbook app from scratch for a major operator is a massive undertaking and potentially unrealistic.”
