Apple Pauses Gambling Ads in App Store Pages After Developers Complain [Updated]

[madrigal77]

They need to scrap the whole idea immediately. If not, then Tim Cook needs to step down. This is not Apple. A lot of people buy Apple products specifically because they are not like Google, making their users the "product". This is a slippery slope, and if it's not reversed, it's the beginning of the end of Apple as we know them.

 

[macos9rules]

The real scandal is that iOS still has no stock casino app after 16 years. It can't be that difficult, Apple?

Ask Joswiak... He would say: "I use third-party apps. Go to the App Store. There are a ton of them!"

 

[Tozovac]

I'm so ****ing over Tim Cook as CEO. He's dragging Apple into the ground.

This profit above all else ethos is quickly destroying the brand that Steve spent years cultivating. People pay a premium for Apple hardware to not have to deal with this sorta crap.

He’s trapped. Quarterly growth to rule them all.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple: No Ads! Steve Jobs!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1585076780335263744

 

[ghanwani]

Apple learning the ropes.

 

[boswald]

I don’t mind ads for similar products I might like, but gambling is pretty sleazy. Honestly, I’m surprised they’re in there at all.

 

[loteq]

Ya apple sucks at relevancy with ads. I’m all in on apple stuff but I will switch apps away from their stuff where necessary to get rid of ads. If it goes to far I’ll be extremely disappointed in the company. As jobs said. I’ll know it when I see it.

 

[msackey]

I see the latest update, indicates that Apple has paused gambling ads. Mm hmm. Stop the whole roll out!!

 

[Htsi]

No AD’s man. Don’t you charge enough for products & services? When are

 

[Naraxus]

This ^

Tim and company are putting everything at risk with these decisions.

This is awful to watch

Tim The Beancounter is at it once again. The sooner he's gone the sooner Apple can get back to being about computers & customers and not thinking about how fast they can gouge their loyal fanbass

 

[4nNtt]

One reason I was originally attracted to Apple products was no ads, crap-ware, etc. It would be nice to see them drop most ads. Particularly for users with paid services like Apple One.

I don't use Google Play so I can't comment on that, but other digital stores I use don't have ads. If I go to a brick and mortar store there are no ads on the walls. It is particularly bad that the App Store shows ads for categories not searched for and shows them on developer product pages.

Ads should be fully voluntary. Ideally in exchange for something like a free service that would otherwise cost money. Apple's original ad strategy was to allow apps to use their ad service. I was fine with that since most apps gave a way to pay for a premium version without ads. I don't care for the new strategy of blanketing their own services with ads.

 

[Naraxus]

Jobs hand picked Cook

He also handpicked Scully. What's your point? Jobs hires ****** people to run Apple?

 

[msackey]

No AD’s man. Don’t you charge enough for products & services? When are

Exactly. They charge enough for their products and services. They do not need to further monetize. It’s like the current state of airline travel: first they make seat pitch smaller so you have to pay to get better economy seat pitch. More recently you have to pay to select your seat. Even more recently on some, no snacks at all on domestic flights unless you pay.

Stop monetizing by nickel and diming. It cheapens your entire enterprise and you lose the goodwill of your customer base. You lose the best thing you have: a strong customer base.

Apple. Stop being jerks. Stop being cheap asses. Stop being an ass-h***

 

[GeoStructural]

Pretty gross oversight from apple.

Clearly it’s about the money over ethics with apple.

The Steve Jobs Apple would have never allowed this to happen.

I was about to like your comment until you said the famous "The Steve Jobs Apple would have never allowed this to happen."

First of all, Steve was just as much a money-grabbing business-above-ethics person as his successor is, with the aggravant that he was also obtuse and stubborn. Second, you could never know so it is pointless to continue to say that.

 

[tgwaste]

But they are perfectly OK advertising tons of games with loot boxes.

 

[EchoplexSE]

I’m so sick of ads everywhere, keep putting ads everywhere Apple…I’ll take my business elsewhere

 

[GeoStructural]

One reason I was originally attracted to Apple products was no ads, crap-ware, etc.

No Crap-ware? Here I am using a $3750 Mac Book Pro full of Crapps and bloatware... and unlike Windows, they are not removable!

 

[JGIGS]

Since we're still not making enough money with all these gambling ads. Let's increase prices of our services!

Got that nice little surprise on Apple Music today as well.

 

[nateellis22]

I remember when one of the big talking points for us iPhone users was that we pay a premium so that we don’t have to see ads everywhere, unlike android. A common argument was “Androids are only cheaper because google is subsidizing the cost by selling YOU to advertisers”. I recall Apple themselves saying similar. This whole effort from Apple is a huuuge bummer, and a big stain on their brand image.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

I remember back in 2010-2012, i would be excited about getting a new app (both free/paid) and spent so much time browsing in the app store.

Today, I cant remember the last time I downloaded an app. or even opened the app store. (probably around 2017ish). My perception of the app store? a toxic hell stew of subscriptions and in-app purchase-infested freemium apps.

EDIT: Looks like my last purchase was Apr 5th, 2016.

THIS^ The honeymoon was over a long, long time ago. The only thing I go there for anymore is to re-download apps when setting up a new device.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Here I am using a $3750 Mac Book Pro full of Crapps and bloatware

Which crapps and bloatware are you referring to?

 

[vipergts2207]

If you think Apple is the customer-focused company that they were a decade or so ago, you haven’t been paying attention. Unfortunately because they’re so entrenched (along with Google) the prospect of another company coming along to save us is slim to none.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I use App Store only when I need it. The rankings are fake, the ratings are fake, the reviews are fake, and now the ads are fake, why should people use it to find a good app?

I avoid the App Store whenever possible. It’s a total, chaotic, trash pile of awful. Has anyone ever tried to use it as intended? Maybe it’s better than Google Play - I wouldn’t know.

So while the ads will not likely affect me, that Apple is dipping a few toes into the ad side of the game is just… gross. Stop. It’s not necessary. There is more than enough of an audience desperate for as little advertising (read, none) as possible. It’s my least favorite aspect of Apple’s evolution to date. Stop. Please. Thanks.

 

[4nNtt]

I avoid the App Store whenever possible. It’s a total, chaotic, trash pile of awful. Has anyone ever tried to use it as intended? Maybe it’s better than Google Play - I wouldn’t know.

I agree with this. I can never find anything on the App Store unless it's in Apple Arcade or I already know the exact name of the app. Discoverability is awful. At a minimum there needs to be a lot more categories and filter options. You can't even filter for paid apps only. There is no way to see the unlock or subscription price apps at a glance so they get mixed in with freemium. I generally need to click one app at a time then scroll down and open the IAP tab just to figure out the price. You can't sort or search by one-time IAP unlock or subscription apps. I feel I'm spending most of my time sifting through garbage.

The editorials are nice to find a gem you didn't know you needed, but they don't do enough to help discoverability. The editorials are the only part of the store the least bit innovative. If anything they should take that further and republish app reviews (with permission of course) from Apple News.

I never have discoverability issues on any other marketplace. You would think making it easier to find things to buy would be good for Apple's bottom line, but I guess poor discoverability so they can sell more ads is the priority.

 

[zapmymac]

I never search the App Store. I rely on word of mouth from people here on forums, and/or articles. Gambling apps are a slippery slope in general with so much addiction-associated to them.

unforced error on Apple corp.