With the legalization of online gambling activities quickly sweeping through the nation, some of the top sportsbooks and the leading play-for-free poker companies could be in positions to make a move into the real money sweepstakes.
Zynga (ZNGA), which runs a very popular brand of free poker over social networks, has seen its poker brand grow by leaps and bounds over the last year. It’s no coincidence that over that same time, various scandals surrounding UltimateBet and Full Tilt Poker have reduced the number of options for players to play paid poker. Many of those people have turned to Zynga to get their fix.
At the same time, online gambling legislation has been moving toward legalization. New Jersey and Delaware have passed or are in the process of passing bills. Zynga is already in position to swoop in and offer a paid service; it’s just a matter of how and when.
Zynga could very quickly become the ultimate online poker giant as it has already tapped into the world of social networks. It could either keep its brand and start offering pay-for-play poker or even keep one as the family-friendly version and create a new brand for online poker.
There’s also the possibility of it teaming up with experienced companies in the industry; gambling operators such as Wynn (WYNN) could join forces with Zynga to make the ultimate product. Zynga will likely wait and see what transpires with gambling rules and regulations, which should be eased shortly. If that’s the case, it will likely start to make a move into the new territory.
For now, Zynga players can’t win any real money, but it’s fairly clear that with so much money on the line for the company, it’s only a matter of time before it begins offering real money gambling options.
http://www.minyanville.com/special-features/sports-business/articles/ZNGA-zynga-onling-gambling-social-media/7/12/2012/id/42334
LOTTERY EXPO 2013
Co-Hosted by PGRI and the
Florida Lottery
November 4 to 7, Miami, Florida,
Trump Miami Beach Hotel
18001 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Phone: Domestic: 855.244.2964 International: 786.522.3523
**Use Group Code 10W820 to get our
special rate
===================================================
SMART-TECH 2013
PLATINUM SPONSORS


SILVER SPONSORS
Thank you to all
of you who presented, served on a
panel discussion, and participated
at Smart-Tech. This was PGRI’s
fourth annual event in NYC and has
become a great venue for lotteries
to delve into the most relevant
issues of the hour, and we so
appreciate the privilege of hosting
it and visiting with you. The next
issue of PGRI Magazine will include
an in-depth analysis of the issues
we explored. Too, the conference
was video-recorded and will be made
freely available to everyone on
www.PGRItalks.com. We’ve
received much positive feedback and
hope that everyone accomplished
their objectives. Our next event
will be held at the Trump Miami
Beach Hotel on November 4, 5, 6, and
7th. Lottery Expo Miami
is especially exciting for the
participation from our colleagues in
Latin America. The North America
track is on Tuesday, the LatAm track
on Thursday, and we all come
together on Wednesday. Thanks to the
support of our commercial partners
and sponsors, the hosted receptions
held every night of the conference
have become a wonderful venue to
talk with industry leaders from all
around the world. Please check in at
www.PublicGaming.org for PGRI
conference updates. Thank you again
- We look forward to seeing you
again. Please e-mail me (pjason@publicgaming.com)
with any questions, feedback,
guidance, or comments of any kind.
Smart-Tech 2013 was held
April 8,
9, 10, 2013
at the Helmsley Park Lane,
New York.
PUBLIC GAMING OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012
Click here to read the .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING SEPTEMBER 2012
Click here to view the .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2012