Is Zynga the Game Changer for Online Gambling?

Unless you've been living under a rock somewhere, you'd probably already be aware that Zynga, the social game company famous for Facebook hits like FarmVille and Zynga Poker, is considering entering the online gambling market. But what does this mean for the world of online poker, and could it be a game-changer for the entire industry?

Zynga Begins Talks

San Francisco-based Zynga confirmed last week that it is holding talks with potential partners, in order to "better understand and explore" the opportunities of hosting online gambling for real money. The company's Zynga Poker game can only be played for fake money, yet 30 million people use it every month, mainly via Facebook.

However, with the recent US Department of Justice ruling that in-state online poker does not violate federal law, this changes the picture for Zynga and other social games companies, and provides an opportunity to access new customers through real-money online gambling.

What are the Possibilities?

According to report, Zynga is planning to bring together Zynga Poker and Zynga Bingo and turn them into a combined Zynga Casino. This casino would initially offer the full range of online casino games, with the intention of turning it into a real-money casino when the company makes that transition in the near future.

Currently, players buy chips with virtual money and can make more virtual money by winning games and tournaments. If Zynga Casino comes to fruition, it would allow players to play the exact same games they love, but would then allow them to create a real account and cash out all their winnings. This would put Zynga in direct competition with other online poker and casino sites.

Casino Play via Facebook

Of course, the other game-changer here, and one that possibily influenced Zynga's decision, is the possibility of hosting real-money casino play on Facebook. According to reports, Facebook is looking for new revenue streams, and is considering introducing real-money gambling to its platform - which services around one eight of the world's population.

Earlier this month, International Game Technology announced that it had agreed to pay up to $500 million for Double Down Interactive - which also develops casino-style games for the social network. So if Facebook does enable gambling, you can be assured that Zynga has competition, and that can only benefit the users themselves.

The State of Online Poker Tomorrow

The good news for us as consumers is that the tide is certainly turning in favour of online poker, rather than against it. Recent bills at US federal and state level, and the news emanating from Facebook and Zynga, indicate that online gambling is gaining acceptance.

Moreover, online poker is entering the mainstream and being recognized for what it is - a genuine sport, and not simply a game of chance.