A large variety of gambling-related mobile applications are eliminated from the App Store and hundreds more could probably follow after Apple implemented a new App Review policy now. In an attempt to fight illegal online gaming activity, the technology giant wiped out individual developers’ gaming apps in the popular platform. But many programs unrelated to gaming at all were also removed with no reasonable explanation.
The altered App Review policy comes just a week after Apple has been made to purge 38 gaming apps in the Norwegian version of this App Store. Back in May, the Norwegian Gaming Authority requested that Apple should prevent Norwegians from accessing these applications on the grounds that they did not have the required licensing in the country. At this time, there are only two licensed gaming operators in Norway, namely Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto, both state-owned companies.
The Norwegian case has likely urged Apple to take a more active stance against illegal gaming and fraudulent activities on the Internet. The latest measures show that the business has apparently taken a very strict approach towards offering gambling apps on its own App Store. According to this updated App Review policy, the technology giant will no longer permit gambling apps from individual developers. Furthermore, this comprises not just applications where users can bet or play casino games for real money but also programs that mimic a gaming experience.
Apple states that just “confirmed accounts from integrated business entities” could be allowed to upload and distribute gaming programs. The changes in the business policy have yet to be in a position to reflect that at least according to many reports and complaints published in the past few hours on social media. What triggered a true backlash, however, was the elimination of many apps that were not connected with gaming at all.
Banning Non-Gambling Apps Due to Unrestricted Web Access
The reason behind the mass elimination of programs now from the App Store is reducing the fraudulent activity on the platform, an explanation from the company shows. Apple states it also wished to comply with all the many requests from governments for fighting prohibited gaming . Though the new policy certainly aims at achieving such purposes, it also bans a wide range of programs that haven’t anything to do with gaming or any fraudulent activities.
It appears the ban applies to applications that allow users unrestricted web access. Such programs have a “17+” score and may go about parental controls and provide kids access to unvetted content, which will be most likely one reason why Apple has made a decision to remove these programs from the App Store. The problem is that there are many programs with such a score and most of them are not related to gaming. Even fewer are filed by illegal gaming operators and other fraudulent businesses.
It is not clear if this elimination of mobile applications from the App Store has been accidental, but multiple programmers said on social media their programs had been removed even though they were not connected with any gaming activities.
