Apple pulls dozens of real-money Dutch gambling apps

Apple has removed dozens of real-money gambling apps from its Netherlands-facing App Store following a request from the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) earlier this year.

The gambling regulator today announced the technology giant had pulled a total of 55 apps from the App Store after the KSA had in May requested 49 apps be deleted.

However, EGR also understands a number of the apps were removed by the operators themselves, as opposed to being struck off by Apple.

The apps can no longer be downloaded by Netherlands-based Apple account holders, a move the KSA said had prevented a total of 10,000 downloads of apps from unlicensed operators over recent months.

The KSA’s decision to remove the apps comes as the Netherlands prepares to regulate its online gambling market after the Dutch parliament recently passed a bill to regulate the industry.

Operators looking to enter the market will face a uniform tax rate of 29% for land-based and remote gaming, a decision many in the egaming industry claim will lead to a far less attractive market and reduced channelisation to licensed sites.

The Netherlands is not the first country to see Apple remove online gambling apps from one of its local App Stores after the company took similar action in Sweden last year following pressure from the country’s gambling regulator.