The latest update to the App Store guidelines to reflect the Apple gambling policy contains new rules which will certainly have a big impact on real-money gaming apps and, consequently, the entire industry. The June 3 update added that “…games distributed in apps may not provide access to real money gaming, lotteries…”, and that all existing apps must follow this guideline by September 3, 2019. Apple’s previous guidelines were already suspected in the delay of getting apps live for New Jersey and Pennsylvania online betting.

Another new wrinkle this rule creates is that it will remove existing gambling apps from the app store if they don’t come into compliance. While those with the apps on their phone will likely still be able to access them after September 3, anyone interested in downloading the new app will not be able to until the iOS one is approved and listed.

Given that the first NFL game of the season is on September 5, meeting that September 3 deadline becomes all the more important for sports betting apps.  In states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania, this will be their first NFL season with online betting, which makes easy customer acquisition all the more important.

Read more about the impact of the Apple gambling policy at the Play USA