Apple and Google Remove Illegal Gambling Apps from their Stores

Apple and Google have removed a number of apps from App Store and Google Play, after judging them as illegal gambling apps. The Asian-facing gambling apps were masquerading as legal apps focusing on subjects such as travel and weather, to bypass local government rules and app store policies.

The apps were able to avoid detection because their descriptions were inconsistent with their content and their gambling features were intentionally hidden during reviews.

The apps were highly downloaded in China, while the government efforts to remove illegal online gambling gangs have resulted in a high number of arrests.