Apple has suspended gambling ads in the App Store
On October 25, Apple announced that companies can advertise their apps on the pages of other apps in the App Store by placing their icon in the ‘You may also like’ section. However, this was not to the liking of the majority of developers – in some places the advertising was too inappropriate.
This was also noted by Twitter users – the social network was flooded with screenshots with examples of inappropriate gambling recommendations. For example, a slot machine app was advertised with gambling addiction treatment programs, and sports betting was placed alongside children’s games.
They’re on the bottom of listings for gambling addiction recovery apps! pic.twitter.com/q7Pank1gXL
— Jon (@hot_doggin_jon) October 26, 2022
There is also an example of advertising adult video chats in recommendations for Apple Books and a dating app under an app to enhance current personal relationships.
These App Store ads are something…
Reading? You might also like: Adult Video Chat
In Therapy for Addictions? You might also like: Gambling
Streaming Disney? You might also like: California Psychics
Improving your Marriage? You might also like: Hinge Dating pic.twitter.com/lMlgHT0AgK— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) October 26, 2022
Currently, an official representative of Apple Trevor Kincaid said that the company, in response to criticism from developers and users, ‘suspended advertising related to gambling and several other categories on the product pages of the App Store.’
As MacRumors points out, Apple has not specified how long the pause will last or whether any changes to the policy will be made based on the results of the initial rollout. It is also not known which applications were assigned to ‘other categories’.
Apple has no additional information to share at this time, so it's unclear how long the pause will last/what changes might be made/etc.
— Joe Rossignol (@rsgnl) October 26, 2022
Apple’s rules for advertising in the App Store list apps related to gambling, alcohol, dating, the pharmaceutical and medical industries as ‘restricted’ – meaning they have special display rules. The restrictions are mostly related to legislation rather than being potentially harmful – the site states that gambling apps are ‘prohibited or restricted in some countries and regions’.
Apple’s next move could have big implications for the future of the iPhone. Reports indicate that the company plans to take ads outside of the App Store and add them to Maps, Podcasts, and Books (imagine someone searching for a gambling addiction treatment center and seeing an ad for a casino).
The good news for Apple is that there are other companies working on this problem, so you can borrow ideas from them. Google, for example, allows you to limit the number of ads on potentially sensitive topics (such as alcohol, gambling, dating, pregnancy and weight loss).
Apple talks a lot about the App Store being a safe place to get software for your phone, and it needs to back up that claim. But will it be able to do that while trying to show us more and more in-app ads?
