Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) bought Spooky Cool Labs, which is a team of 40 people, expert in real money-gaming strategy making. The company has recently laid off employees, but is not hesitant in employing the experts in the strategic areas such as social casino gaming.
About Spooky Labs
Spooky Labs, a group of 40 persons, is based in Chicago. The spooky labs have experienced and highly expert former employees from companies like Aristocrat, slot machine makers like IGT and WMS gaming. Joe Kaminkow, who is the owner of Spooky lab, was added in the list of 10 most prominent people in the history of slots by Strictly Slots Magazine.
The website of Spooky Cool, however, tells a different story as the company seems to be designing non casino titles like Wizard of Oz city-building social game.
After the deal
According to Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), after the acquisition of Spooky, it will be able to access Wizard of Oz brand.
The team of Spooky labs will work in collaboration with the social Casino gaming team of Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), which is based in San Francisco. An interesting point to note will be Kaminkow will continue to lead game design in Aristocrat Leisure Limited, which is one of the biggest slots makers globally. Hearst Corporation also provides funding to Spooky Cool, but the amount is not known.
Zynga betting on online gambling
Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) is trying hard to make a strong presence in mobile platforms, and it is keeping faith on its old games like Zynga Poker. Zynga is also looking forward to foraying into the online real money gambling.
The first real money gaming was launched by Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) in the United Kingdom, in April, after the end of the first quarter. However, the game maker is still trying to launch this real money game over Facebook or mobile there. The company is waiting for “preliminary finding of suitability” from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which would take more than a year.
Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) will have to face considerable hurdles in transition from a social gaming company to real money gambling. The strategies and approach required to garner a position in real money gaming is different from that of social gaming. There are many dominating companies in this Industry who are eyeing entrance in the United States once it is allowed.
Zynga at present is going through a tough time with declining profits, and it is eagerly waiting to get the approval in the United States for real money online gambling for the first time.