Playing Poker On Facebook

Facebook is bigger than MySpace. This much has been established in 2007, the year that the young social network website has made its giant leap. Poker is bigger than Facebook, or so seems to be the case.

In spite of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, no less than 30 million Americans play poker, though for free. Poker room operators have recently introduced their products on Facebook, where they have been greeted by millions of enthusiasts. In free games, players win points – not cash – by winning hands and participating in social activities, such as getting friends to join, etc.

Bodog, Absolute and Ujogo are among the poker rooms who offer free poker game applications on Facebook, as well as use the network to spread word of mouth advertising of their websites.

At this point in time, users must leave Facebook and reach the poker rooms themselves to play for real money (where gambling is legal, of course). But there is a lobby with a strong case – a $7 billion case – that calls for legalizing poker of all games, as a game of skill.

Poker rooms, social networks and the US economy will all benefit from this, if carried out properly.

Ujogo’s free Texas hold'em poker is the third most popular application on Facebook. Now imagine what it would be like if playing for money was legal.

Would the law change, social networks fully incorporate online gambling, and industry leaders enter the gaming market (Yahoo! already has), we might see great changes in the year ahead.