An investigation by 9to5Mac has uncovered dozens of apps on the App Store in Brazil that masquerade as simple games or utilities but are, in fact, fronts for online betting platforms. These "jacket apps" appear in various categories, often featuring AI-generated animal icons and poor design. When accessed from a Brazilian IP address, these apps redirect users to gambling sites, a behavior not exhibited elsewhere.

Many of these apps are published by developer accounts with single listings, often with names common in Vietnam. They share similar privacy policies, lack updates, and are small in size. A public GitHub repository detailed instructions for creating these apps, emphasizing marketable names, animal-themed icons, and remote routing capabilities to conceal their true nature and evade App Store review. The instructions also advised on unique coding to prevent detection as a group.

Ironically, the App Store's own recommendation system appears to group these suspicious apps together. This discovery comes amid increased scrutiny from Brazilian authorities, who have given Apple and Google a deadline to explain their detection methods for unauthorized betting apps. Apple has also faced pressure to remove similar disguised apps.