Zynga Expresses Interest in Online Gambling

Zynga COO John Schappert told Forbes this week that online gambling is "very interesting", backing up the company's confirmation last month that it is already in talks with several partners in a potential bid to enter the industry.

Why Wouldn't They Be Interested?

"Why wouldn't they be interested?" you're probably thinking to yourself right now. After all, the company's Zynga Poker game is currently played by 30 million people, mainly via Facebook - but all of it for simulation purposes only. So of course, entering the world of real money poker and gambling would be a great opportunity for Zynga.

The tide is turning in the US, the largest potential online gambling market, and Zynga and existing real money gaming companies recognize this. A recent decision by the US Department of Justice could pave the way for Internet gambling to become legal in some states. Several states are already debating bills on the matter, and the battle continues to legalize and regulate online poker at a federal level too.

Traditional Companies Enter Fray

Traditional entertainment companies are also taking a greater interested in online gambling, as can be seen by the recent appointment of Walt Disney's John Vandemore as the new chief financial officer at International Game Technology. He replaces Pat Cavanaugh, who resigned after three years in the role.

Also this week, the CEO of Las Vegas casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp said his company would benefit from the rise of online social media gaming. He made the speech just a few days after the gambling giant's initial public offering valued it at $1.92 billion.