Following changes to Brazil’s betting regulation, Apple now requires a Brazilian betting license for fixed-odds betting apps on the App Store. Here are the details.

New license requirement for betting apps in Brazil

As Apple announced on its Developer blog, developers who want to distribute fixed-odds betting apps in Brazil will now need to provide a valid license from the country’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA).

According to the SPA’s website, the agency is responsible for regulating and supervising Brazil’s betting sector:

The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) is the body within the Ministry of Finance responsible for fixed-odds betting, commercial promotions, philanthropic sweepstakes, lotteries, and the advance collection of popular savings. Its role is to authorize, grant, regulate, establish rules, monitor, supervise, inspect, and sanction companies in the sector, in accordance with current legislation.

As Apple explained in its blog post, apps including these features, “indicated by selecting ‘Yes’ to the gambling question in the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect,” will need to provide this license. Additionally, these apps will automatically receive an A18 age rating in Brazil.

Apple also says that developers will need to submit a new version of the app to initiate the verification process, since “Updating the App Review Information section in App Store Connect alone won’t start a review.”:

When submitting a new version of your app for review:

• Include your license information in the App Review Information section in App Store Connect.
• Enter your license details in the Notes field.
• Attach any supporting documents using the file attachment field.

Finally, Apple tells developers that, beyond age restrictions, their apps must comply with all local disclosure and warning requirements, including gambling risk warnings, and recommends contacting legal counsel with any questions.

Source: 9to5mac