Apple updates app age rating settings to better support titles with gambling and contests

Announced in a post to Apple's dedicated developer webpage, the new affordance is designed to better refine age ratings for apps that include gambling and contests.

Specifically, the "Gambling and Contests" setting has been split into two distinct settings, allowing developers to appropriately indicate those content types. As noted by Apple, gambling and contests will also be indicated separately on the App Store in an app's age rating dropdown.

Apple will automatically note that an app includes instances of gambling if a developer previously affirmed the "Gambling and Contests" setting. In such cases, "Contests" will be marked as "Frequent/Intense," Apple says.

The update also allows developers to access age rating settings directly from App Store Connect's App Information section. Apple notes apps that support Universal Purchase will display the same age rating across all platforms.

Changes to age rating settings will be logged when developers submit a new version of their app. These modifications could impact app availability in certain regions depending on local laws, Apple says.

The update is an extension of a 2019 age rating policy that restricted gambling apps to users 17 and above.

While not specifically related to today's update, Apple has been the target of multiple lawsuits claiming it illegally benefits from casino-style gambling apps made available through the App Store. The company has also come under fire for enabling in-app micro-transactions like loot boxes.