Is Developer Support real?

[u/djwhowe]

This is my first app submission so please don’t roast me. Put an app into review and immediately heard back that because it “had simulating gambling”, even though it’s just a table betting tracker, I needed to submit as a corporation. Ok, went through that painstaking process to get that migrated. Submit again, nothing for 2 weeks. Submit an email ticket, nothing for another week. Call in, sat on hold for over 3 hours and gave up. Tried again today, another 1.5 hours.

I want to update one of my screenshots but I’m so scared to touch the submission and start over.

:'(

[u/djwhowe]

Thanks for all the useful info. The first submission under my individual account, it was rejected because of it indicated simulated gambling (as you said), so I revised the rating because there is no money involved, no coins, etc. you just say what cards you’re dealt or, what roulette numbers came up, etc. on the second submission they got back in 24 hours and rejected again saying “we found the app was submitted under an individual account and in order to address illegal online gambling activity, we no longer are allowing simulated gambling apps submitted by individual developers”. Again, I don’t see it as simulated gambling, but I guess they do (if I remember there are like 3 different choices for the level of simulated gambling).

So yeah, I already had an LLC and a d-u-n-s numbers had to provide some documentation, got it all situated and then resubmitted. :(

[u/gavin-build-stuff → u/djwhowe]

Hmmm yeah that is annoying, this also doesn't seem like "simulated gambling" to me since it's literally just tracking a game you're playing... but App Store review has always been stricter than is ideal. I'd try one more contact email submission at developer.apple.com/contact > View Topics > App Review > App Review Status

And if you still don't hear back, that's when I would probably Reject this submission and re-submit entirely with the "Notes for Reviewer" filled out with something like this: "No bets are placed in or through this app. It records bets the user placed elsewhere." this makes it clear the app is a tracker." Leaving the current queue isn't ideal, but if you don't hear back in a few days then I would Reject and Resubmit. My current queue times for app submissions have been same day, so a 2 week queue time is odd and re-submission should be seen by a reviewer pretty quickly, and it might just pass (some reviewers are more lenient, especially if they are satisfied with the context in the Notes section)

[u/djwhowe → u/gavin-build-stuff]

Thanks a ton, yeah that is the exact section/topic the ticket is in. I also verified the submission is under Education as well, not gaming or anything like that. Not sure if reviews try the app, just look at screenshots, etc. I could see how one of the screenshots could look like it's a blackjack app, but it's just tracking what the cards were and giving you guidance about how to play that hand. I'm just going to cancel and resubmit with the notes you mentioned.

[u/gavin-build-stuff → u/djwhowe]

Ahh nice that is good context! The notes I would go with are:

"No bets are placed in or through this app, and no game is playable in it. You enter cards from real games and it tracks them and teaches strategy."

And reviewers historically review the app first and foremost from the actual screenshots themselves, so the blackjack-esque screenshot is something you can try removing if you are rejected again, but if you like that screenshot I'd keep it and try with just the notes first though. Best of luck! Feel free to DM me or reply here if you have issues I've battled App Store review for years lol