Apple takes down apps per Norway’s request

The Norwegian Gaming Authority persuades Apple to drop unlicensed gambling applications from the App Store.

Norway.- When discussing online and mobile gambling, unlicensed operations are probably the main concern of regulators all across the globe. That’s why the Norwegian Gaming Authority (NGA) probably 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.

“According to the Norwegian Gaming and Lottery Acts, only the two operators Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto can offer, meditate and market their online gambling services in Norway,” Frank Hoff Hana, senior advisor at the NGA told iGamingBusiness.com and added: “It is prohibited for all other gambling operators without a Norwegian licence to offer, mediate or market gambling services in Norway. This is a result of a restrict responsibility policy.”

He also highlighted the importance of protecting consumers from gambling addiction and said: “Although many people enjoy gambling, there are others who have major problems with gambling. Gambling addiction is serious and does often cause people to lose more money than they can afford to lose.”