I’m planning on releasing a very simple iOS/Android game and have a question in mind.
The game involves skill/luck and works as a standalone game. However, I was planning on incorporating some monetary awards to give people incentive to play? Is this possible under the Unity Personal licence?
Also, is it possible to pay the winner money through the iOS/Android app or is that illegal under Apple developer licence?
If it is possible, would I have to pay via a website? Or, can I do it via the app?
I’m thinking, user pay $0.50 to buy the app and money gets added to the jackpot every time someone plays? Then if someone wins, they take the jackpot.
Idk if it is even possible to pay the user through the app.
Seems to me that you would rarely be sending this payment, so it would be much simpler to do it by hand with your own server managing who gets to win.
Yes, if you can win money, that’s gambling. IANAL, but I’m pretty sure that would be illegal in the U.S. (except perhaps in Nevada with a proper state gambling license).
If the email is a lie, it’s fine. If you actually pay them, then yeah, that’s gambling and illegal. (Or such is my understanding anyway.)
It has nothing to do with the app. You could set up on a street corner and play 3-card Monty, or just run your own lottery. It’s still illegal. When you see any game in the U.S. that pays out money, that’s gambling, and requires permits and licenses (which will not even be possible in most jurisdictions).
For a while, there were online gambling sites based outside the U.S., in places where gambling is legal… but use of them by U.S. citizens, from U.S. locations, is still illegal, and there was a crack-down a few years ago. I’m sure you can still find them if you look hard enough, but you definitely have to wander into the dark corners of the internet.
All this is predicated on the assumption that you’re handing out money, or something convertible to money. If you just hand out “points” or “stars” or some such, and there is no way to convert those back into money, then it’s not gambling and you’re fine.
There are ways around the gambling restrictions. You can sort of launder virtual currency through virtual items through sale of virtual items on a secondary market. Many games do this. But we’re definitely not at “simple mobile game” territory anymore. And setting up all the parts so that it’s legal might not be simple.
Do you think there’s a legal way around it?
I’ll take it as a no. I guess I’ll have to remove the feature. Do you think I could say on an external website, if you win, you get a prize? Then tell them to screenshot it and I’ll place a few verification checks in place.
Cheers,
Michael
If you’re asking a forum on the internet how to deal with the legality of laundering money to avoid international gambling restrictions, then … well … no.
Even in some jurisdictions you need a license to be running a competition. Unless you can restrict your app to only be played in certain countries, or limit the competition to certain countries, you are potentially breaking the law in multiple countries.
Edit: in some countries it is against the law to structure your stuff to avoid money laundering &/or gambling etc
I may have misunderstood because it read at the start like you wanted to send players money if they played your game which iap’s & ads don’t do, they earn you money. If the players paid you & then it went into a pot that someone could win then you would pay tax on the money you got as it’s income, after that you are running a lottery which needs a license in almost all places. Money laundering risk comes in as no one but you knows if it is actually random or if the ‘prize’ is going to a fixed winner. Putting the money in the pot for a prize as you stated also doesn’t leave you with an actual income unless you will be keeping a portion for yourself.
I have seen a very large company run competitions in their App Store games where their server detects players that meet the weekly competition goals & they are rewarded with in game items. The company also then runs contests for in game & real world items via their Facebook page.
If you are serious about it though you need to contact the various app stores to see if they allow it, then get legal advice for each country the game will be playable in, then also get tax advice on your responsibilities & possible liabilities for the money that you will get before you pay any back out.
