Apple Says Simulated Gambling Apps Will Be Rated 17+ in All Countries Starting Today

In an email to developers today, received by MacRumors, Apple has announced that apps marked as having "Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling" will be rated 17+ in all countries and regions starting today.

Gambling apps meeting certain related criteria will also be newly available to users in South Korea, but only to users 19 years of age or older.

Apple's full email:

Dear Developer,

In an effort to open up additional opportunities for developers, we've worked with the government of the Republic of Korea on making more apps available on the App Store in the Republic of Korea. And to ensure that our global age rating system continues to help make the App Store safe for kids, apps that feature Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling will be rated 17+ in all countries and regions starting August 20, 2019.

If your app meets at least one of the criteria below, you'll be able to offer it on the App Store in the Republic of Korea to users 19 years of age or older. You'll need to enter a Rating Classification Number from the Game Rating and Administration Committee in App Store Connect, and can do so starting August 20. Apps with a number entered at this time will be published later this week. If you don't have a Rating Classification Number, you can apply for one now.

- Apps in the Casino subcategory with age rating 17+
- Apps in the Games or Entertainment categories with Frequent/Intense selected for at least one of the following content descriptions:

-- Simulated Gambling
-- Sexual Content or Nudity
-- Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or Reference
-- Realistic Violence

To enter your Rating Classification Number:

1. Sign in to App Store Connect.
2. In the App Information section under Availability in the Republic of Korea, enter your Rating Classification Number.
3. Submit your app for review.

See section 5.3 of Apple's App Store Review Guidelines for other restrictions on gambling apps.

Tag: App Store

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

dannyyankou

4 weeks ago

I’m surprised this wasn’t the case already. I know it’s just a game, but you don’t want to get kids addicted to things like this when they’re young.

Rating: 5 Votes

lunarworks

4 weeks ago

As they're not banning gambling games, I don't see a problem with this. Gambling addiction is a huge problem.

Rating: 4 Votes

Biu_miu

4 weeks ago

Gambling in general is a problem. It is a bad habit. So many people are addicted to gambling that it should be banned. Period.

I agree that’s this is a gimmick and it will solve gambling problem just as much as it solved mass shootings by removing gun emoji.
By the way, only USA and random third world countries have this shooting problem. Why should I and millions of other Apple users, living outside US and North America in general, have to suffer this barbaric lack of freedom to send gun emoji, if literally it is only one counties fault?
Again same goes for gambling- I don’t see it as a solution. Fine, some kid can’t download some game app. Whatever, open computer and gamble there, or go gamble on a street with some friends, gamble with your sister on what’s going to be for dinner. Possibilities are endless.
Also, I believe smartphones are addictive, you should ban all of them. Apple should stop producing them, iPhones only make this problem worse. See, how narrow minded it sounds?

Rating: 1 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]