Quote:
Originally Posted by m00sy
Well they don't obstruct them operating at a profit, just that deposits have to be made outside iOS. 30% seems exorbitant no matter what the App but then Apple supplies the infrastructure to make money which otherwise wouldn't be there. It makes sense to apply this globally across all Apps since loopholes could be created and policing would become more difficult. If that isn't clear imagine Amazon Poker where you get books by "depositing".
I guess that for most apps, depositing outside the App is not allowed anyway; otherwise no app would have in-app deposits and just launch a browser window and do all deposits all through the website. Ongame skins already have web-based cashiers that pop up from the application, so it seems real money games already have some kind of special exception there.
The loop hole isn't really an issue because all Apps already go through an extensive application process that involves user testing, source code review etc. So "Amazon Poker" would easily be rejected as a clear attempt to fool the system. It's a pretty simple check - is this app in the 'real money gambling' category (itself with very extensive 'responsible gambling' and licensing requirements and vetting process) where players play online games for money that permits withdrawals? Okay low transaction fees. Is it actually something thinly masquerading as a gambling game when really they are just trying to call 'books' 'deposits'? reject.
The 30% is exorbitant for all apps, but they can run at a profit with in-app purchases. Real money poker games are unique (the ability to withdraw, PvP play) that literally make a 30% transaction fee impossible to use. As Apple specifically allowed real money gambling recently, i assume they did this with the consultation of people in the industry and were told this - it's no benefit to Apple to maintain the 30% for real money poker apps because it's simply way too high to be considered. Something like 5% however could be very beneficial for both parties and bring apple a boat-load in transaction fees.