App is rejected because of gambling related content

What confuses me is that the App Store Connect age rating describes Gambling as betting or wagering using real money or in-game currency that can be exchanged for real money, which does not apply to our app.

And it also has a category for "Simulated Gambling" which precisely describes the core functionality of your app.

Has anyone else recently experienced this with a football pool, fantasy league or sports prediction app?

How would that be useful?

I've never understood the point of a comparison to some other app from some other developer. Do they think that App Review is going to come back with, "Doh! You got us on that one! App approved!"

Wouldn't it be just as easy for App Review to say, "OK. Fair enough. App rejected under 4.3 (b)." This clause also includes: "Repeated submissions of this kind may lead to removal from the Apple Developer Program." Kinda seems like the 18+ age limit is the better deal there.

Thanks for your reply.

My question wasn't about pointing to other apps in order to argue that App Review should approve ours as well. I'm simply trying to determine whether this is an isolated review decision or whether other developers of football prediction or fantasy league apps have recently received similar feedback.

Also, App Review specifically asked us to answer "Yes" for "Gambling", not "Simulated Gambling". That's part of my confusion. The App Store Connect definition of Gambling refers to betting or wagering using real money (or currency exchangeable for real money), while our app has no betting, wagers, entry fees, cash prizes, payouts, odds, or exchangeable virtual currency.

I'm genuinely trying to understand how Apple currently interprets this guideline and where the line is drawn for football prediction or fantasy league apps. If other developers have recently encountered the same issue, that would help determine whether this is a broader interpretation or something specific to our app.

I'm simply trying to determine whether this is an isolated review decision

What if it is?

whether other developers of football prediction or fantasy league apps have recently received similar feedback.

What if they have, or haven't?

These are not rhetorical questions. Please explain what you plan to do about it, in material terms.

App Review specifically asked us to answer "Yes" for "Gambling", not "Simulated Gambling". That's part of my confusion. The App Store Connect definition of Gambling refers to betting or wagering using real money (or currency exchangeable for real money), while our app has no betting, wagers, entry fees, cash prizes, payouts, odds, or exchangeable virtual currency.

In your original post:

App Review says that because the app includes "tips, tools, predictions or other information related to real money gambling"

Perhaps random people on the internet aren't that reliable. In hindsight, I think my assessment was wrong. Instead, perhaps "Simulated gambling" would be restricted to a virtual casino or virtual card game environment. In that kind of app, there is no virtual outcome that would have any relation to any actual, real money gambling scenario. Such a simulated gambling app might help people learn individual card games, or make a realization that Orlando might be a better vacation choice than Vegas. But the app would be useless if the user were actually gambling in Vegas.

Your app is actually modelling a real-world, real-money gambling scenario. It could help people make predictions in current, real-life gaming events. Ergo, it's a gambling app.

I'm still struggling to understand the distinction.

Gambling

Betting or wagering using real money or in-game currency that may be exchanged for real money.

This is not what our app does.

Simulated Gambling

Betting or wagering without using real money or in-game currency that can be exchanged for real money.

This also doesn't seem to describe our app. We don't simulate betting or a casino experience. There are no wagers, chips, odds, payouts, entry fees, or virtual currency.

Our app is much closer to a fantasy league or football pool. Users simply predict football scores and earn points that are used only for rankings, achievements, and league standings. There is no way to bet, pay, or win money through the app.

If the concern is that users could privately decide to attach money to a friendly football pool outside the app, I'm struggling to understand where the boundary is. The app itself neither facilitates nor processes betting or payments.

I'd genuinely appreciate clarification on how App Review distinguishes a points-based football competition from gambling under the current guidelines.

I'd genuinely appreciate clarification on how App Review distinguishes a points-based football competition from gambling under the current guidelines.

You can certainly appeal the rejection, or request a Meet with Apple App Review appointment.

App Review has already tried to clarify this. I've tried too. You've rejected both attempts at clarification. However, App Review does have the final word.

Interesting.

So if I understand correctly, your view is that any fantasy league or football prediction game based on real matches is inherently gambling-related, even if it's purely points-based and doesn't involve bets, entry fees, payouts or prizes?

I've scheduled a call with App Review, so hopefully they can clarify how they interpret this. I'm asking because our app's core prediction mechanic has been part of the app since the beginning and has been approved in many previous submissions, so I'm trying to understand what has changed in the current review.