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Apple accused of promoting gambling on the App Store

Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by AppleInsider, Apple is being sued for “promoting, enabling, and profiting” from gambling games on the App Store.

The lawsuit was lodged Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut by Karen Workman, the plaintiff in the case. She claims she downloaded an app called “Jackpot Mania” in 2017, and “began purchasing coins through the app so he/she could continue to play for a chance to win free coins that would enable him/her to enjoy the game(s) for a longer period of time.”

In the six months before filing the suit, Workman spent $3,312.19 on in-game coins, the lawsuit adds. As Deadline notes, gambling apps are banned on the App Store, but the complaint argues that apps with in-game currency still fall under the “gambling” category because users “have the ability to win and therefore acquire more playing time.”

The lawsuit is seeking class status and asks for a refund of “all money paid through the illegal gambling games described herein,” attorneys’ fees; and an award for the plaintiff for “his/her services in this case on behalf of the class.”

(Dennis Sellers has been covering the Apple industry since 1996. In addition to“Apple World Today,” he also runs his own freelance writing/editing service. If you want more info about the latter, email him at dennis.sellers@comcast.net.)

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.