Woman sues Apple for hosting 'gambling apps' after spending thousands on in-game currency
Apple has been hit with a lawsuit alleging that free-to-play games on the App Store that feature in-game currency constitute illegal gambling.
Credit: Apple
The lawsuit, lodged Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, claims that Apple "promotes, enables, and profits" from gambling games on the App Store.
For example, the plaintiff in the case, Karen Workman, says she downloaded an app called "Jackpot Mania" in 2017, and "began purchasing coins through the app so he/she could continue to play for a chance to win free coins that would enable him/her to enjoy the game(s) for a longer period of time."
In the six months before filing the suit, Workman spent $3,312.19 on in-game coins, the lawsuit adds.
Although gambling apps are banned on the App Store, the complaint argues that apps with in-game currency still fall under the "gambling" category because users "have the ability to win and therefore acquire more playing time."
Furthermore, it argues that credits which are "recorded and allow one to extend play" are a thing of value. "The apps at issue record credits and allow the player to save them up and play later," the complaint reads, before accusing the App Store of hosting apps that violate Connecticut's gambling statutes.
"Apple is not some minor or incidental participant in these illegal gambling games. It is the principal promoter and facilitator of the illegal activity. Apple maintains dictatorial control over what apps can be downloaded from the App Store, and the payment method to purchase in-app items," the complaint reads.
The lawsuit, which is seeking class status, also asks for a refund of "all money paid through the illegal gambling games described herein," attorneys' fees; and an award for the plaintiff for "his/her services in this case on behalf of the class."
Credit: Apple
The lawsuit, lodged Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, claims that Apple "promotes, enables, and profits" from gambling games on the App Store.
For example, the plaintiff in the case, Karen Workman, says she downloaded an app called "Jackpot Mania" in 2017, and "began purchasing coins through the app so he/she could continue to play for a chance to win free coins that would enable him/her to enjoy the game(s) for a longer period of time."
In the six months before filing the suit, Workman spent $3,312.19 on in-game coins, the lawsuit adds.
Although gambling apps are banned on the App Store, the complaint argues that apps with in-game currency still fall under the "gambling" category because users "have the ability to win and therefore acquire more playing time."
Furthermore, it argues that credits which are "recorded and allow one to extend play" are a thing of value. "The apps at issue record credits and allow the player to save them up and play later," the complaint reads, before accusing the App Store of hosting apps that violate Connecticut's gambling statutes.
"Apple is not some minor or incidental participant in these illegal gambling games. It is the principal promoter and facilitator of the illegal activity. Apple maintains dictatorial control over what apps can be downloaded from the App Store, and the payment method to purchase in-app items," the complaint reads.
The lawsuit, which is seeking class status, also asks for a refund of "all money paid through the illegal gambling games described herein," attorneys' fees; and an award for the plaintiff for "his/her services in this case on behalf of the class."
Comments
I bought at least one app on the Mac App Store. I can't remember the price but it was likely around $70 and I see some expansion packs which seem to add up to $250. To me that seems expensive so I ignore the expansions. But at least $250 is in the same approximate ballpark as the original purchase, not 10 or 100 times the original price.
Anyway, to get back to the original article... while I don't think what she's doing falls under the gambling laws, I really wouldn't mind if crap like that gets banned.
Paying for being allowed to play more would be a general mechanism that does not equal gambling in my book: Classic flipper machines and arcade machines are categories where this has always been the case.
"...began purchasing coins through the app so he/she could continue to play for a chance to win...”
With a name like Karen Workman then I'd be leaning more towards the plaintiff being female.
That doesn't really sound like gambling to me.
If I bought the in-game currency and then I was offered a coin-flip to determine if I received them or not, then that would be gambling.
If you bought the tokens, played the game, then bought more, then you weren't gambling, you were wasting your money playing games.
Well, setting aside this person’s lawsuit (I have no interest in it) that statement is simply not true. The App Store is chock full of games where you pay to gamble on a chance to win something. I guess in some countries the term “gambling” might legally be quite narrow and only mean where you can win money.
Your second paragraph captures the key reason why this problem persists, with the “we” part being especially important. There was a time when the “we” included not only parents, but teachers, neighbors, civic leaders, influencers, and social norms and expectations. The “we generation” was replaced by the “me generation” - and here’s an example of one of the consequences.
Not trying to frame all of the country’s ills around one incident, but merely trying to point out that lack of intelligence and stupidity are actually valid reasons for an individual acting in this way. These are human conditions that someone can be born with. But lack of integrity and lack of accountability are learned behaviors that are passed down from one generation to the next, and especially when their are so many ongoing examples from which to draw upon.