Apple reinstalls Sweden-facing gambling apps
Apps from PokerStars and Unibet believed to be the first to be re-instated, others expected to go live in the coming days
Apple has started re-installing the gambling apps that were previously removed from its Sweden-facing App store after the Swedish Gambling Authority (Lotteriinspektionen) dropped its case questioning the legality of the apps last month.
eGaming Review understands that apps from PokerStars and Unibet are the first to be re-instated by the US technology giant, with others expected to go live again in the coming days.
In February Apple removed approximately 40 gambling apps from more than a dozen operators after a letter sent by the regulator cited a possible breach of terms and conditions due to the unlicensed and potentially “illegal” status of operators.
General secretary of the Association of Online Gambling Operators in Sweden (BOS), Gustaf Hoffstedt said he was “very pleased” with the developments after previously criticising the regulator’s role in Apple’s decision to remove the apps.
“There is nothing in the Swedish law that prohibits gambling companies with an EU licence to offer their games on the internet, and EU Law explicitly prohibits Sweden from discriminating companies from other member states,” Hoffstedt said.
“Hopefully Sweden can now leave tricks like this behind and focus on how to create a modern and well-functioning licence system, according to the government’s wish.
“To be successful in that creation all serious parts much work together, and I look forward to working together with the Gambling Authority in this important task,” he added.
The Swedish Gambling Authority has previously told eGR that no formal complaint had been made against the Apple and that the decision to pull the apps was entirely the US technology giant’s.