Why is Apple Setting Restrictive Guidelines on Gaming Apps?

Inexplicably, Apple has set forth new design guidelines for all online sportsbook and casino gaming apps that are being offered through the Apple Store. The recent announcement of this move caught the iGaming industry by surprise because there doesn't seem to be a viable reason to head off in this direction.

It's noteworthy that U.S. online gamblers can download iGaming apps from both The Apple Store and Google Play. While the apps being made available by operators are not specifically designed to be compatible with either of these operating systems, they still work fine after the download process has been completed. If a customer so chooses, they also have the option of accessing most of these sites via standard internet web browsers.

This one is a real head-scratching decision. Absent some kind of security concerns, there doesn't seem to be a viable to force U.S. iGaming operators to redesign their mobile apps so they are 100% compatible with the iOS operating system.

The deadline for compliance with this directive has been set for September 3, 2024. Failure of operators to comply with this directive will result in their respective apps being stripped of Apple Store access.

Why the Directive Now?

When iGaming operators design their mobile apps, they use the HTML5 software development tool to create their respective platforms. By today's standards, everything is being created with some kind of influence from HTML5. It makes it incredibly easy for online gamblers to use the appropriate apps without having special programming.

By forcing online gambling operators to make this change on short notice, Apple is effectively charging an "iOS tax" on these businesses. To date, no such requirement has been made of operators from Google Play, which is effectively putting Apple device users at a disadvantage should their respective operators fail to meet the deadline. That's currently 40% of the iGaming market in the U.S.

As for the why, no one seems to have any answers.The biggest concern for operators is how these new restrictions might impact business. If an online gambler is using an iOS-compatible device, they won't be able to access their online gambling sites. They might well choose to just walk away from being involved in any kind of online gambling. That would be a big blow to operators that derive up to 80% of their revenue from online mobile gambling.

SugarHouse in PA is Addressing the Problem

In the short term, SugarHouse Sportsbook and Casino in Pennsylvania might have a workaround to address this issue.

Instead of having to hire iOS programmers to come in and redesign the operator's mobile app, they would simply turn to their partnership with GeoComply. GeoComply has a product called GeoGuard, which allows users to access standard web browsers while using their mobile devices. This might be an option that other operators might want to consider in the immediate future.

FYI: GeoComply is the company that provides geo-tracking software. This software is used to track the location of online gamblers when they sign in to their wagering accounts.