Is this business model counted as in-app purchase?

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Created Jan ’22

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We are building a fitness application and there is one revenue model that we are curious that if this is considered as in-app purchase and if it is required to cut 30% commission fee from Apple.

We will have a "challenge campaign" that the user can register to join virtual group exercise. Once the challenge is succeed, the user will get points to redeem online vouchers for any physical or digital goods. Of course, the user needs to pay to join the challenge campaign.

The question is that is this activity called as "in-app purchase" and is it required for 30% commission fee?

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Answer 1

Claude31 OP

Feb ’22

You have certainly read the guidelines:

5.3 Gaming, Gambling, and Lotteries

Gaming, gambling, and lotteries can be tricky to manage and tend to be one of the most regulated offerings on the App Store. Only include this functionality if you’ve fully vetted your legal obligations everywhere you make your app available and are prepared for extra time during the review process. Some things to keep in mind:

5.3.1 Sweepstakes and contests must be sponsored by the developer of the app.
5.3.2 Official rules for sweepstakes, contests, and raffles must be presented in the app and make clear that Apple is not a sponsor or involved in the activity in any manner.
5.3.3 Apps may not use in-app purchase to purchase credit or currency for use in conjunction with real money gaming of any kind, and may not enable people to purchase lottery or raffle tickets or initiate fund transfers in the app.
5.3.4 Apps that offer real money gaming (e.g. sports betting, poker, casino games, horse racing) or lotteries must have necessary licensing and permissions in the locations where the app is used, must be geo-restricted to those locations, and must be free on the App Store. Illegal gambling aids, including card counters, are not permitted on the App Store. Lottery apps must have consideration, chance, and a prize.

I do not see how the 30% commission would be computed on a real good where user only gets a voucher in the app.

But be prepared to go through a long thorough review of the app, with the risk to be rejected if anything is not crystal clear for the reviewer.

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