Zynga takes plunge into real money gambling in UK

Social games company Zynga has made the jump into the world of gambling with the launch of two new online real money games in the UK.

The long-expected move is a huge step for a company that has struggled somewhat in the free-to-play social browser game genre it helped cultivate since it launched its IPO, with a wave of senior execs leaving the firm.

Zynga’s first real money games are ZyngaPlusPoker and ZyngaPlusCasino, with the latter offering 160 slots games as well as table games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and video poker.

The games can be accessed either in the browser or through desktop applications, and users can use a single Zynga ‘wallet’ that is share across both versions.

The company has partnered with real money gaming outfit Bwin.party to powered the new titles.

Zynga said as well as the new selection of games, it will also be launching social versions of the real-money titles for players on Facebook and mobile in the UK throughout the rest of the year.

“Our long term vision is to offer our players the next generation of real money games on multiple platforms in regulated markets worldwide,” said Zynga chief revenue officer Barry Cottle.

“We take responsible gaming seriously and are proud to partner with bwin.party, an industry leader and a reputable company that is fully licensed by a premier regulatory authority.

“This is just the beginning for us and we’re looking forward to seeing what our UK players think about ZyngaPlusPoker and ZyngaPlusCasino, and creating the most valuable casino games and social experiences for them.”