Apple has pulled thousands of gambling apps from its Chinese app store after the country’s media accused the company of hosting fake and illegal gambling applications. According to Bloomberg, the state-run media attacked Apple for hosting illegal lottery-ticket apps, which apparently resulted in losses for clueless users.
China Central Television has reported that Apple has pulled at least 4,000 apps that were tagged with the keyword ‘gambling’ on 9 August itself.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple has taken down about 25,000 applications.
According to the Bloomberg report, Apple has confirmed taking down the apps citing regulations. However, this adds to Beijing's crackdown on all kinds of online content and the difficulties that foreign companies are facing while doing business in the country.
“Gambling apps are illegal and not allowed on the App Store in China,” Apple told Bloomberg in an emailed statement.
We have already removed many apps and developers for trying to distribute illegal gambling apps on our App Store, and we are vigilant in our efforts to find these and stop them from being on the App Store.Apple’s statement to Bloomberg.
According to TechCrunch, Apple offers about 1.5 million applications in China. Greater China, on the other hand, is Apple's third largest market – grossing at $9.6 billion in the last quarter.
(With inputs from Bloomberg, TechCrunch and Wall Street Journal.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)