Hacker News Reader

Comment by breakfastduck | Hacker News Reader

Apple don't allow gambling apps on the App Store? That's not true.

5.3.3 Apps may not use in-app purchase to purchase credit or currency for use in conjunction with real money gaming of any kind, and may not enable people to purchase lottery or raffle tickets or initiate fund transfers in the app.

Apple has FanDuel, DraftKings, MGM Sportsbook, etc. So it may follow the 5.3.3. rule, but it's certainly gambling in spirit if not in practice.

They also allow real gambling anyway, in the UK at least.

Irrelevant what this says, they DO allow gambling apps.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/william-hill-sports-betting/id... https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/bet365-sports-betting/id519684...

Two of the largest bookmakers in the UK.

And this one is a lottery app so directly one of the things you've said is not allowed

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/the-national-lottery-official/...

That rule is about about the IAP feature. Gambling apps are not required to use IAP, since they don't fall into the definition of what must use IAP. See for example, apps that let you purchase insurance being listed as an example of IAP exempt apps in 3.2.1(v). 5.3.3 forbids using IAP for these purposes, as under some jurisdictions it would put Apple under the gambling regulations. (Apple could be viewed as collecting bet money from betters on behalf of the bookmaker).

5.3.4 makes it perfectly clear that gambling apps are allowed, if they are "free", properly licensed/authorized to operate, and geo-restricted to only be available where they are authorized to operate.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com