Apple recently announced significant changes to its App Store age ratings in both Australia and France, responding to evolving local regulations and aiming to improve safety, particularly for younger users. These updates represent a shift towards stricter oversight of apps that include gambling or gambling-like content, following growing concerns in both countries about the impact of such content on younger audiences.
The changes are designed to work in tandem with Apple’s global age rating system, with regional age ratings being displayed alongside Apple’s standard ratings. Developers will not need to take any action, as Apple will automatically apply these regional adjustments in the relevant App Stores.
Understanding Apple’s Current Global Age Rating System
At present, Apple’s global App Store age rating system classifies apps based on the type and intensity of content, particularly with regard to gambling. Currently, apps containing infrequent or mild simulated gambling are categorized under the 12+ age rating, while those featuring frequent or intense simulated gambling or actual gambling receive a 17+ rating. This system is in place across all countries where the App Store operates, providing a standardized approach for categorizing content.
However, with the changes in Australia and France, the global system will now be supplemented by more stringent regional-specific age ratings. These local adjustments reflect the unique legal and cultural expectations in each country, particularly when it comes to protecting minors from exposure to gambling or gambling-like mechanics.
Australia’s New Classification for Simulated Gambling
In Australia, the changes to App Store ratings are driven by new governmental regulations introduced to address concerns about gambling-like content in video games and mobile apps. The revised Australian classification system requires that any app featuring simulated gambling receive an R18+ rating—a significant escalation from Apple’s global ratings. This means that even apps previously deemed suitable for users 12 and older under Apple’s system will now carry an R18+ age restriction in Australia, effectively barring minors from accessing these apps.
This decision is in line with broader reforms introduced by the Australian Government through its new classification guidelines, which came into effect on 22 September 2024. These reforms target content that may expose young people to gambling behaviors, with a particular focus on video games that contain loot boxes or chance-based purchases. The guidelines stipulate that games offering these features will now receive a minimum classification of M (Mature), which is not recommended for users under 15. Moreover, any app or game featuring simulated gambling will be classified as R18+, ensuring that only adults can engage with this type of content.
Impact of Australia’s New Rules on Apps and Games
The Australian Government’s stance on simulated gambling comes in response to growing concerns about the potential link between gambling mechanics in video games and the development of gambling addiction, particularly among younger audiences. There is increasing evidence that loot boxes, random rewards, and other chance-based mechanics mimic the behaviors found in traditional gambling, raising alarms among policymakers, parents, and health professionals.
By classifying apps with simulated gambling as R18+, Australia aims to significantly limit the exposure of children and teenagers to these potentially harmful features. The new rules also serve as a warning to app developers, urging them to reconsider the inclusion of gambling-like mechanics in their games if they wish to avoid the adult-only rating that could restrict their market reach.
This shift towards stricter regulation also reflects a broader global trend, as governments around the world wrestle with how best to protect younger users in the ever-expanding world of digital content.
France’s Age Rating Adjustment for Mature Content
In France, the changes to the App Store age ratings are more straightforward but still impactful. Under the new system, apps that are rated 17+ globally by Apple will now display an 18+ rating for French users. While this adjustment does not specifically target gambling-related content, it reflects a cultural and legal preference in France for clearer distinctions between mature and adult-only content.
The 18+ rating will provide users—and particularly parents and guardians—with a more transparent understanding of what kind of content an app contains. This is especially important in a country where digital literacy is high, and where the government has been actively involved in efforts to regulate online and mobile content for the safety of minors.
For developers, this change will not require any additional steps beyond what is already required under Apple’s global system. The regional age rating will automatically be applied to apps that meet the 17+ criteria, ensuring that French users have access to information that aligns with local expectations regarding content suitability.
No Additional Burden on Developers
Despite the significant changes to the way apps are classified in Australia and France, developers will not need to take any action in response to these updates. Apple’s new system ensures that regional age ratings are applied automatically based on the content of the app and the local regulatory environment.
This seamless integration means that developers can continue submitting their apps to the App Store under the same global age rating guidelines as before. The regional adjustments will be handled by Apple, ensuring that apps meet the new classification standards in Australia and France without any disruption to the submission process. However, developers may want to monitor changes in other regions to anticipate potential regulatory shifts in the future.
Broader Implications of the Age Rating Changes
The updates to App Store age ratings in Australia and France are part of a broader conversation about the need for stricter regulation of digital content, particularly in relation to the protection of younger users. The introduction of R18+ classifications for simulated gambling in Australia and the more explicit labeling of adult content in France reflect the growing concern among governments about the influence of digital apps and games on children and teens.
Gambling-Like Content in Digital Spaces
In recent years, the rise of gambling-like mechanics in video games has sparked intense debate. Features such as loot boxes, which offer random in-game rewards in exchange for real money, are increasingly being viewed as a gateway to traditional gambling behaviors. These concerns have prompted several countries to introduce stricter regulations around these features. For instance, Belgium and the Netherlands have already banned loot boxes, classifying them as a form of gambling.
Australia’s decision to classify apps with simulated gambling as R18+ fits into this global trend, with policymakers looking to shield younger users from content that could promote unhealthy spending habits or risk behaviors. While the new rules stop short of banning loot boxes outright, they signal a significant shift in the way such content is regulated.
Global Shifts in Digital Regulation
As digital content continues to evolve, the changes in Australia and France could represent the beginning of a more global shift towards tighter regulation of mobile apps and video games. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, are also closely monitoring the impact of gambling-like features in digital spaces. It is likely that more governments will introduce similar measures in the coming years, potentially creating a more challenging landscape for developers of apps that feature in-app purchases or random reward mechanisms.
Apple’s introduction of regional age ratings in Australia and France reflects the company’s commitment to aligning with local regulations and ensuring a safer digital environment for its users. The R18+ classification for simulated gambling in Australia, combined with the 18+ age rating for mature content in France, will help provide users with clearer, more accurate information about the content they are downloading.
As governments continue to tighten regulations on digital content, especially in relation to gambling-like mechanics in apps and games, both developers and users should be prepared for ongoing changes. These updates represent a crucial step in safeguarding younger users from potentially harmful content, and they highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in the rapidly growing world of mobile apps.