Since Apple began showing more ads in the App Store on October 25, several developers have expressed their frustration with receiving ads for gambling apps in the “You Might Also Like” section of their own listings. This is especially problematic because these developers have nothing to do with gambling apps.
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On Twitter, one of those developers, Marco Arment, posted a screenshot showing gambling ads on the App Store page for the podcast app Overcast. Other developers who have encountered similar problems have made their disapproval clear. Now, Apple has told MacRumors that it has “discontinued gambling-related ads and some other categories on App Store product pages.”
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Apple’s statement leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not entirely clear whether the tech company intends to continue running gambling ads after the outcry is quelled. Furthermore, Apple failed to provide additional details about its decision, while the use of the term “pause” seems to suggest that this change is intended to be only temporary.
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Florian Mueller of the FOSS Patents blog noted that Apple's introduction of ads on app pages puts pressure on developers to buy these ad spaces. If they don't, competitors could use them and "steal" potential customers.
Apple has been selling ads on the App Store for years, but the ad space in the Today tab was limited to a curated selection of recommendations from Apple’s editorial team. Now, the “You Might Also Like” section, where ads now appear at the bottom of listings, contains cards with suggestions for similar apps. This allows casino ads to appear almost anywhere in the App Store, because advertisers can target categories other than their own.
Information source: engadget.com
