Zynga folds Nevada gambling application

Zynga has formalized its retreat from the real money gaming world, having successfully withdrawn its application for an interactive gaming license in Nevada.

The company only began talking up real money gaming last year, and by December it had applied for the license to offer digital casino and social games with cash payouts to consumers.

Now the company has former Xbox headman Don Mattrick as CEO in place of Zynga founder Mark Pincus, and at his first company earnings call the new boss revealed the company was cancelling its bet.

According to Nevada Gaming Control Board documents independently confirmed by USPoker, Zynga has followed through with a successful “request to withdraw applications”.

“Zynga believes its biggest opportunity is to focus on free to play social games,” read the company’s Q2 2013 earnings report.

“While the Company continues to evaluate its real money gaming products in the United Kingdom test, Zynga is making the focused choice not to pursue a license for real money gaming in the United States.”