Apple is getting ready to update its guidelines within the App Store. Part of this update is bound to have an impact upon how casinos operate their apps since it may require a reshuffle and even a reprogram. Let’s take a look at what is planned, and the impact it could have on the gaming industry.
What the Rules are Currently
Right now, any casino can make an app for its patrons. These are considered more convenient than trying to play through a browser and so many of the big casinos choose to make their own app for their players.
Apps for iOS and Android are offered through the App Store and Google Play respectively. They are also usually free since money will be handled within the app itself when you make deposits.
If you are looking for a great way to enjoy your favourite slot games, an app might be just what you need. So long as the casino meets the guideline of the store, there is no reason why it cannot be there to attract an audience. However, the guidelines for the App Store are about to change, and this could mean trouble for many a casino.
What is Changing
Apple is looking to make sure that all of their apps are unique and have a basic level of native functionality. To do so, they have said that all apps must basically not be repackaged versions of the existing casino website.
This is the clause which is most likely to affect casinos. Basically, Apple wants to make sure that their apps are a significantly different experience than what a patron would have on their website.
Why This is Bad News
If Apple wants to ensure that the apps and casino websites are significantly different, the casino owners are going to need to make some changes.
Many websites have ported their websites into an app and anyone familiar with one will find little difference when they look at the other. This is great for familiarity and allows a user to slide seamlessly from one experience to the other.
For example, you may be used to playing at your favourite casino on your laptop. When you get an iPad for your birthday, you may decide to download the app for this casino so you can continue to play on this new tablet. Casinos want this switchover to be as easy as possible. However, Apple is beginning to stand in the way of this.
The Effect on Smaller Casinos
This change in guidelines means that many a casino is going to have to rethink their apps. This may simply require a few tweaks for some lucky few, but for many, it will require a complete rebrand. A new app may need to be constructed from scratch. While not a problem for the larger corporations with some money behind them, this may become problematic for the smaller casinos.
They may not have the capital to be able to create an entirely new app. If they have an app that’s in the late stages of development, they may also struggle to change it to meet the new guidelines within their preferred budget and time period. This means that they could have to scrap the app they have been working on entirely and won’t be able to earn back any of the resources they have spent making it.
If the casino did manage to make their app live, they may be required to take it down. This means the casino could potentially experience a loss of revenue. Those who used the app may want to clear out their accounts and move to a casino which has a functioning app as not everyone wants to play on a browser.
How This Will Change Online Betting
For the foreseeable future, it seems like betting apps are going to be just for the bigger companies who can afford to devote revenue towards changing or making an app. It may become the case that gamblers choose to place bets on various websites so they can still enjoy all the facets of gambling which they love.
For example, a Stakers bet can be placed on a myriad of different sports. Therefore, someone may choose to place a football bet with Stakers and then head over to their bgo app to play a few rounds of a slot game. This split and spread may become the norm and in there lies some inherent danger.
If players choose to spread their betting across multiple sites, they may find themselves losing track of how much they are betting overall. This can be one of the factors which leads to a gambling addiction. You must always make sure that you are in full control of your online spending at all times. If you do find yourself having to visit multiple websites to make all the bets you want, consider changing your habits. Track your betting using a spreadsheet and then consider giving up one of the avenues. It will be better for your mental health, and your bank balance, in the long term.
Final Thoughts
Apple has every right to change their guidelines to however they see fit. They could choose to simply ban all sports betting and casino apps from their website if they wanted. However, this move to simply control the apps is going to have some quite serious effects upon the industry. Not every casino has the resources to be able to adjust their apps to meet the new guidelines.
Many smaller casinos will be able to continue to operate happily without an app. If you are looking for an app to gamble on, you may want to consider looking at one of the bigger companies until this new guideline from Apple has been properly implemented by casinos across the board.
It is clear, every casino needs to make sure that their apps are fully compliant with everything the App Store and the Google Play Store requires them to do.
