With an influx of kid-related and gambling programs making the round on Apple’s app store, many users have been wondering if there could be a loss of real-time money as a result. Fortunately, that’s not the case, as Apple recently revised its rules for both kinds of apps through a special update.
The following updates apply when it comes to gambling apps, according to the company:
“20.5 Apps that offer real money gaming (e.g. sports betting, poker, casino games, horse racing) must have necessary licensing and permissions in the locations where the App is used, must be restricted to those locations, and must be free on the App Store
20.6 Apps that use IAP to purchase credit or currency to use in conjunction with real money gaming will be rejected”
Meanwhile, when it comes to kids’ apps, these policies were put into effect to coincide with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA for short…
“17.3 Apps may ask for date of birth (or use other age-gating mechanisms) only for the purpose of complying with applicable children’s privacy statutes, but must include some useful functionality or entertainment value regardless of the user’s age
17.4 Apps that collect, transmit, or have the capability to share personal information (e.g. name, address, email, location, photos, videos, drawings, persistent identifiers, the ability to chat, or other personal data) from a minor must comply with applicable children’s privacy statutes.”
Also, all kid’s apps must now restrict behavioral advertising (which is defined as advertising shown that’s based on the user’s activities within an app), and all kid’s apps must explicitly ask for parental permission before the user can make in-app purchases. That last one will certainly affect those games that have sold in-game items to kids too young to understand they were spending money. Apple no doubt hopes to prevent such embarrassing incidents.
Source: TUAW