Apple pauses gambling ads on App Store after backlash

Apple has come under fire after its new ads service displayed gambling and adult chat room content under non-related content, leading to the firm to ban the offending material.

The tech giant launched a new ads service for its App Store earlier this week but has already been met with mire as paid ads have cropped up for users searching for different, and sometimes opposing, apps.

Apple’s new You Also Might Like tab appears at the bottom of individual apps and is clearly marked as a paid ad.

In a development update, Apple said: “With the new Today tab and product page ad placements, you can drive discovery of your app in more moments across the App Store – when customers first arrive, search for something specific and browse apps to download.”

However, the launch was not well received by concerned Apple users across social media.

These App Store ads are something…

Reading? You might also like: Adult Video Chat
In Therapy for Addictions? You might also like: Gambling
Streaming Disney? You might also like: California Psychics
Improving your Marriage? You might also like: Hinge Dating pic.twitter.com/lMlgHT0AgK

— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) October 26, 2022

Apple users reported gambling ads in the You Also Might Like tab after searching for apps related to therapy with an ad for House of Fun: Casino Slot Games displayed beneath search results for therapy app Better Help.

Users also were shown a LiveFun: Adult Video Chat ad beneath Apple’s Books app and dating apps beneath results for marriage support apps.

Apple’s advertising sales are reported as part of its services business, which also includes App Store sales, online subscription revenue, hardware warranties and revenue derived from licensing deals.

In total, Apple reported $68bn in sales from services in its fiscal 2021.

Earlier this year, Bank of America estimated that Apple could generate $5bn in revenue this year from its search ads alone.