In an article published by the Economic Times, it has been reported that Apple is seeking a concrete reason or a legal requirement from Indian authorities to take down betting and gambling apps from its App Store. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had previously ordered Apple to remove such apps altogether in India. However, Apple has expressed its inability to comply arbitrarily with the directive.
Apple acknowledges the request from the government but emphasizes the challenge of removing betting apps in India, as they are deemed valid and permitted in other jurisdictions. The company has informed the ministry that it cannot simply bar these apps without proper justification.
According to a source quoted by The Economic Times, “Apple contended that since these apps are valid and legal in other geographies, it would be difficult for them to bar them outright in India.”
Earlier this year, MeitY had published a list of 138 gambling and betting apps that were banned in India. While Google promptly removed these apps from the Play Store, Apple has not taken similar action. Betting apps such as Betway, BetNetix, and Bet Analytix, which were on the banned list, remain available for download on the App Store for iOS users.
The report suggests that Apple is currently “vetting” the apps to ensure that only problematic or unauthorized players in the ecosystem are removed. For the remaining apps, the company is actively exploring the best possible solutions. It is worth noting that Apple has temporarily removed a few apps that were prohibited by the IT ministry in February.
Government officials have once again urged Apple to ensure that no application on the App Store facilitates gambling or betting in India.
Apple’s App Store guidelines outline the complexity of handling gaming, gambling, and lotteries, as they often fall under stringent regulatory frameworks. The company advises developers to carefully consider their legal obligations before incorporating such functionalities.
In other news, Apple is gearing up to host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5. Speculations are rife that the event will feature the announcement of iOS 17, a new MacBook Air, and more exciting updates.
