The mobile world is not a very friendly place for online gambling operators. Real-money casino games began popping up in Apple's App Store in 2012, offering players a simple and convenient way to play their favorite games online. But Apple decided to ban these apps in 2013, and its example was followed by Google's Play Store. But times change, and so do app marketplace policies. Apple reconsidered its decision and opened up its app marketplace for real-money gaming apps later, only restricting the payments made through gaming apps. From that time, playing casino games on your iPhone has never been easier. There was just one major issue with this decision - for operators and players, that is: Apple is the dominant smartphone platform in the United States, where online casinos, poker rooms, and sports betting outlets are mostly unavailable. Android, in turn, is the dominant platform in Europe, where online gambling in all its forms is legal and regulated. But no real-money gambling apps are available for Android users to this day.
Online gambling is an acceptable form of entertainment
Online gambling was a novelty back in its early years with many supporters and opponents right from the start. Since then, it has grown into a massive global business with strong regulations in place to protect customers from bad players and governing bodies to safeguard its integrity and security. Studies have shown that online casinos resemble social gaming far more than they resemble land-based gambling venues and that their players use them for entertainment in a way similar to social casinos, only with no ads and no in-app purchases.
Apple's stance
Apple's stance on online gambling is perfectly thought out, an example Google's Play Store should follow.
Real-money gambling apps are available through the App Store only in countries where their use is legal and regulated. Users from Australia, for example, can only access the apps offered by the sports betting operators that are licensed in the country, with no third-party apps or offshore operators showing up in the local version of the marketplace. The same goes for the US and the rest of the markets where online gambling is not legal and regulated. In Europe, where the regulation of online casinos, poker rooms, bingo halls, and bookmakers is comprehensive and complete, all licensed operators' apps are available in the App Store. Apple doesn't allow its users to top up their gambling accounts through its payment options. To do so, players need to navigate to the operator's website and take care of all payments there. And when they head back to the mobile version, they will be able to continue playing on the go.
Whether Google likes it or not, online gambling has become part of our reality today. Banning it from the Play Store has led to operators finding alternative solutions for Android users. So why insist on shutting it out of the marketplace instead of allowing it only where it is allowed?
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