Zynga One Step Closer to Online Poker

January 23 - AllThingsD, the tech blog, has reported that Zynga Inc.is seeking to enter the real-money online poker room and gambling market.

The San Francisco firm Zynga Inc., which is responsible for social network games such as FarmVille and Zynga Poker, is said to be in active talks with potential partners in order to take one step closer into the world of real money online poker.

Zynga Poker is considered the biggest online poker game in the world, with seven million people playing the game at social networking sites such as Facebook every day. 

Zynga Poker, however, is played with virtual or play money and now the group is looking to enter the world of actual online poker in order to offer real-money poker games and tournaments.

The move by Zynga Inc. to move closer to online poker comes soon after the US Department of Justice announced that intrastate internet gambling does not violate federal law.

Nevada, so far, is the only US state which allows online gambling in the form of poker. However, the state has not yet licensed any operator that can offer online poker services.

A statement issued by Zynga Inc. read: "We know from listening to our players that there's an interest in the real money gambling market. We're in active conversations with potential partners to better understand and explore this new opportunity."

Zynga Could be a Potent Online Poker Force

One of the main advantages held by Zynga Inc. is that fact that its brand name is already familiar among literally millions of people, especially Facebook users.

This may be a huge negotiating chip for Zynga when it sits down to form a potential deal with other companies in order to offer real money poker services.

On the other hand, it is still crucial for Zynga Inc. to form a partnership as it is considered a non-gambling company, which could limit its chances of becoming a primary license holder when federal laws in the country change. A deal with a company that has a good chance of being considered for a gambling license could result in the ultimate partnership for both sides.

Zynga has also announced plans to develop an independent platform, Zynga Direct, to reduce its reliance on the Facebook platform.

Other top companies in the US gambling industry, including MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment continue to push for changes in federal law which would see the legalization and regulation of online poker in the country.