Zynga Unveils Real-Money Gambling Apps For Facebook

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Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) will unveil its real-money gambling games today at an event in Barcelona, Spain. The game maker will launch the games in the United Kingdom, where real-money online gambling is legal.Zynga Unveils Real-Money Gambling Apps For Facebook

As per the company, social gaming is still its core expertise but online gambling is for fans who wish to enjoy real money in social games.

Facebook titles for Zynga

Head of game partnerships at Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Sean Ryan showed Facebook titles for Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), which includes ZyngaPlusPoker and ZyngaPlusCasino. Both these games are the gambling versions of the social games, which have been worked by Zynga in alliance with Bwin.party, a British real-money online gambling company.

With these games, the San Francisco Company marks the expansion into Facebook and mobile gambling games.

Zynga have already released the web and downloadable version of the gambling games in UK in April, but Facebook and mobile versions have been awaited more keenly. The new versions are expected to have a much bigger reach, says a report from Venturebeat.

Same base but different look

Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) Poker allows a player to buy virtual chips with real money, but disallows a user to cash out the winnings while in ZyngaPlusPoker where a player can enjoy the excitement of playing for real money. If a player chooses to play for real money, then he or she is taken to a new application, which is totally different, and is based on Bwin’s gambling game.

To play the game, the user must be over 18 years of age and must reside in the region where such games are legal. Players will also have to deposit a certain amount with Bwin as a security amount.

Another interesting feature is the players, similar to real-money casinos, will have a chance to win promotional prizes like a stay in casino hotel or a free buffet meal.

The gambling apps and social apps are designed in different looks and color schemes, so that a user doesn’t get confused.

Zynga sees them as experiment

Though it is still not clear when the apps will eventually be launched, Facebook version and mobile version of ZyngaPlusPoker and ZyngaPlusCasino will be available in the near future, depending upon approval from the United Kingdom.

Investors and experts are considering these games an opportunity for Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) to stage a comeback, but the company is seeing them more as an experiment than a financial opportunity.

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