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Zynga Is Trying to Get a Gambling License

Company files paperwork in Nevada

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 6, 2012 9:40 AM CST

(Newser) – Papa needs a new pair of … cows? Zynga yesterday filed the first salvo of paperwork necessary to obtain an online gambling license in Nevada, the Wall Street Journal reports. But don't expect to be betting on Farmville (or more likely titles like Zynga Poker) anytime soon. The document filed yesterday was a request for the state to decide if Zynga is even potentially suitable for a license, and that decision alone is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

It's unclear how long after that final approval would come. The move comes amidst a rapidly changing legal landscape around online gambling. Nevada became the first state to legalize online poker earlier this year. Though it has handed out a few licenses already, none of the companies' online poker games is up and running yet. And when they are, they'll be limited to state residents. But that could soon change: Harry Reid and Jon Kyl are working on a bill that would legalize online poker nationwide and even create an Office of Online Poker Oversight, the Journal reported yesterday. However, the bill would simultaneously ban most other forms of online gambling.

This undated image provided by Zynga shows a screenshot of Farmville 2, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.
This undated image provided by Zynga shows a screenshot of Farmville 2, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.   (AP Photo/Zynga)
In this June 26, 2012 file photo shows Zynga CEO Mark Pincus walks off the stage after an announcement of new games at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco.
In this June 26, 2012 file photo shows Zynga CEO Mark Pincus walks off the stage after an announcement of new games at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, fIle)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
LoginsSuck
Dec 6, 2012 12:24 PM CST
Letting your kids play the free zynga games with all those add ons that they can purchase is a gamble. Especially if your kids have the password to your account to approve purchases. By the time you get your monthly statement, you may own a digital mansion filled with digital things all worth about the same fortune conveniently charge to your card. House wins again.
Scott60561
Dec 6, 2012 11:08 AM CST
Why not make poker legal and taxable? Thousands of players still play, with the revenue from those websites going offshore. If dome right, it could allow a small boost in revenue and keep the money already going elsewhere in this country.
DougMasters
Dec 6, 2012 10:03 AM CST
Right now the GOVT should be careful but progressive about legalizing anything it can tax or make revenue off of.... gambling included.
 

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