Published
Legal & Regulatory

Apple and Google remove illegal gambling apps

Apple and Google have removed a number of apps from their stores, after judging them to be illegal gambling apps disguised as non-gambling products.

Apple

According to Trend Micro research, the Asian-facing gambling apps were masquerading as legal apps focusing on subjects such as wine, travel or weather, in an attempt to bypass local government regulations and app store policies.

Hundreds of the apps were found on the iOS App Store and Google Play, with some ranked in the top 100 of the App Store and rated more than 100,000 times.

The apps were able to avoid detection because their descriptions were inconsistent with their content and their gambling features were intentionally hidden during reviews.

Apple and Google have since removed all located apps.

The apps were highly downloaded in China, in which state media has been critical of internet and phone gambling over the past few months, while government efforts to remove illegal online gambling gangs has resulted in a high number of arrests.

Last year, in a similar story, Apple removed thousands of illegal lottery apps from its China store, to comply with tightening regulation and criticism from state media.

Premium+ Connections
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium Connections
Executive Profiles
The Rank Group
Flutter Entertainment
Wynn Al Marjan Island
Kindred Group

Facing Facts: Looking back on how Asian operators fared in Q4 2022

Gambling Insider takes a closer look at various facts and fi...

GBGC Data: How betting has changed in the US and Europe over the years

Global Betting & Gaming Consultants (GBGC), the global gamin...

Taking Stock: How did Asian operators share prices fare over the last six months?

MGM China, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Sands China and Wy...

AI in the gambling industry: Evolving or deskilling?

With expert industry insight from suppliers OPTX and Sportra...

Read Magazine