Zynga looking into online gambling

Zynga is in talks with partners to expand its business to include real money gambling, expanding the success of its Zynga Poker title.

January 23, 2012 9:00 AM1

Zynga became a darling to investors as it capitalized on the burgeoning free-to-play and social games market. While it’s initial public offering has seen tumultuous rises and dips, the company has been rapidly expanding via multiple acquisitions. So, what’s next for the company? Something very old-school, apparently. Zynga is now looking into online gambling.

“We build games and experiences that our players want and love,” Zynga said in a statement to All Things Digital. “Zynga Poker is the world’s largest online poker game with more than 7 million people playing every day and over 30 million each month. 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.”

The move could be very lucrative for the company, since it already carries a large user base and name recognition among casual players. Zynga announced “Zynga Casino” late last year, a platform made to house its Poker and upcoming Bingo offerings. If the company does move into the online gambling space, Zynga Casino could be the flagship for it.