Wynn Partnering With Zynga Has Online Gambling Implications
The largest land-based casino gaming companies have started to make their move towards the online gambling industry over the past few years. This week, it has been revealed that Wynn Resorts is having discussions about a possible partnership with Zynga, the world's largest online gaming company.
Zynga does not directly allow gambling on their online games, but there are many add-ons that gamers can purchase within each game. In some games, the players can buy credits which can be used for materials needed to create a larger dominance in the game. Other games permit players to buy directly the tools necessary to compete at a high level.
Zynga Poker is considered to be one of the most popular online games in the world. The Department of Justice's decision late last year to reverse a long-standing opinion on Internet gambling has opened the door for individual states to start considering regulating Internet gaming. If that becomes a reality, and it already has in Nevada, then land-based companies want to be in position to capitalize on the law changes.
Wynn had a deal in place with PokerStars last year, but when the online poker company was indicted in the US, Steve Wynn ended the relationship. Since then, Wynn has been exploring other possibilities, and a deal with Zynga makes sense, according to analysts.
"To partner with a company that has a customer base as large as Zynga is beneficial to any gaming company," said Gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins. "Either way, it's a good deal for Wynn. If the laws don't change, they are in business with the largest online gaming company in the world, and if the US laws do change, they will be in perfect position to have a developer that can set up online casinos."
Several US companies have already started to partner with European-based online gaming companies. For companies such as 888 Holdings, the partnerships with companies already established and with gaming licenses in the US give foreign companies an advantage in gaining a license in the US. Most jurisdictions considering regulating online gambling have already stated that they will only license existing land-based gaming companies.
April 20, 2012
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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