Brazilian Authorities Challenge Apple Over Inadequate Age Controls in App Store Betting Apps
Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Safety has formally addressed concerns to Apple and Google regarding the accessibility of betting applications to minors through their respective app stores. The National Secretariat for Digital Rights (Sedigi) and the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) issued letters highlighting the presence of numerous apps that either offer or facilitate gambling activities without proper age restrictions.
These communications emphasize that many of these applications operate without federal authorization and may contravene the ECA Digital law. This legislation is designed to safeguard minors in digital environments by imposing restrictions on access to gambling and other age-sensitive content. The law mandates that internet application stores and operating systems prevent the availability of products or services that promote, offer, or enable access to unauthorized lotteries, including fixed-odds betting.
Among the apps identified are several variants of the Fortune Tiger game, a slot-style betting application that has gained significant popularity in Brazil, where it is colloquially known as Jogo do Tigrinho.
This development adds to a series of recent challenges for the App Store. Reports have surfaced about the availability of applications with inappropriate content and fraudulent crypto wallets, leading to financial losses exceeding $10 million. In response, Apple has taken steps to remove these problematic apps from its platform.
Notably, Apple has recently expanded its App Store age verification tools to include Brazil. Developers utilizing the Declared Age Range API can now obtain a user’s age group, provided the user or their guardian consents to share this information. Additionally, any app that declares the inclusion of loot boxes in its age rating questionnaire is automatically assigned an 18+ rating.
When approached for comments, Apple declined to respond to both Folha de S.Paulo and 9to5Mac. Google, however, stated that it has recently reminded developers of their obligation to comply with ECA Digital requirements. The company noted that developers set age ratings on Google Play through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system, which aligns with Brazil’s Ministry of Justice criteria based on a self-reported questionnaire submitted with each app.
