Google Play and App Store Rules for Gambling Apps

Google Play's requirements

Google Play generally prohibits real-money gambling apps and makes an exception for approved apps. Its policy lists the conditions, including:

• "Developer must successfully complete the application process in order to distribute the app on Google Play;"
• a valid gambling license for each country or state or territory where the app is distributed;
• "App must prevent under-age users from using the app;" with an AO (Adult Only) rating or the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) equivalent;
• "App must prevent access and use from countries, states/territories, or the geographic areas not covered" by the license;
• "App must be free to download and install from the Google Play store;"
• "App must NOT be purchasable as a paid app on Google Play, nor use Google Play In-app Billing;"
• clear responsible gambling information in the app and its listing.

The common violations page adds that licenses must cover the specific gambling type offered, that apps must block new sign-ups from unlicensed regions, that the in-app responsible gambling information must link to an outside support resource, and that real-money apps must be submitted on the production track.

Apple's guideline 5.3

Apple opens the section with a warning: gaming, gambling and lotteries "tend to be one of the most regulated offerings on the App Store." Two rules decide most casino and sportsbook reviews:

5.3.3 Apps may not use in-app purchase to purchase credit or currency for use in conjunction with real money gaming of any kind.

5.3.4 Apps that offer real money gaming (such as sports betting, poker, casino games, horse racing) or lotteries must have necessary licensing and permissions in the locations where the app is used, must be geo-restricted to those locations, and must be free on the App Store. Illegal gambling aids, including card counters, are not permitted on the App Store. Lottery apps must have consideration, chance, and a prize.

Apple's page shows a last update of October 16, 2026. Read the live text before each submission.

What Google Play allows in our four markets

The Australian entry lines up with national law. The Australian Government's page on interactive gambling lists "casino-style games such as online blackjack and roulette" and "pokies or slot machines" as prohibited interactive gambling services. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) also lists "in-play sports betting" and sports betting services without an Australian license among the banned services. An Australian app and its links should cover licensed wagering (not online in-play betting) and lotteries only, which matters for event deep links that open a live market. How a market or age check on the website affects crawling is set out in age gates and location checks on casino pages.

What this means for links and banners

• Store links and install banners belong only where the app is offered. A visitor elsewhere should get the web page, as the guide on deep link fallbacks when the app is not installed sets out.
• Safari's Smart App Banner already hides itself where the app is unavailable; custom banners need the same rule, as the banner guide explains.
• The store listing needs responsible gambling information with local support contacts; the note on listings by market covers what changes per market.
• Store policy is not the whole law. Licensing conditions and advertising codes in each market add their own rules, and this site does not give legal advice.