Pokerstars and Unibet first to return to Swedish app store
Last monthâs decision by Swedish regulator to drop case against Apple sees gambling apps back in Apple Store for first time since February
Pokerstars and Unibet were among the apps back in the Swedish Apple App Store today, after the technology giant began reinstating gambling content after the Swedish Gambling Authority (Lotteriinspektionen) dropped its case questioning the legality of the apps last month.
The majority of the around 40 apps removed by Apple in February could be back online as early as the end of today, although eGR Mobile Intelligence understands that operators must put in a request to Apple to ensure they are reinstated.
âThere is nothing in the Swedish law that prohibits gambling companies with an EU licence to offer their games on the internet, and EU Law explicitly prohibits Sweden from discriminating companies from other member states,â Gustaf Hoffstedt, general secretary of the Association of Online Gambling Operators in Sweden (BOS), said.
âHopefully Sweden can now leave tricks like this behind and focus on how to create a modern and well-functioning licence system, according to the governmentâs wish.
âTo be successful in that creation all serious parts much work together, and I look forward to working together with the Gambling Authority in this important task,â he added.
In February Apple removed approximately 40 gambling apps from more than a dozen operators after a letter sent by the regulator cited a possible breach of terms and conditions due to the unlicensed and potentially âillegalâ status of operators.