Zynga is preparing for the date and time when they can move from being the world’s largest free-to-play online poker site to actually offering real-money poker. The company took a step in that direction after filing an application for an online poker license in Nevada. Zynga chief revenue officer Barry Cottle issued a statement on Wednesday, confirming the company’s decision to file its application for a preliminary finding of suitability from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. “This filing continues our strategic effort to enter regulated RMG markets in a prudent way,” Cottle said in his statement.
“As we’ve said previously, the broader U.S. market is an opportunity that’s further out on the horizon based on legislative developments, but we are preparing for a regulated market.”
The company doesn’t anticipate to receive the green light on its application in the coming months. Rather, Cottle readily admitted that the entire process could take anywhere between 12 to 18 months before they can start putting the wheels into motion as it pertains to offering real money poker to its Nevada clientele. In the meantime, Zynga can focus their attention on its new partnership with bwin.party, one that will see the former launch a real-money poker site that will share liquidity with bwin.party’s dot-com poker operations.
At least they’ll have something to keep themselves busy with while they wait on their Nevada application.
Caesars gets license recommendation
Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment Corp‘s online unit officially received their recommendation from the State Gaming Control Board, clearing the way for the company to receive its own license from the Nevada Gaming Commission. Nothing can be deemed official until the NGC gives the thumbs-up, but in all likelihood, Caesars will get the coveted license – possibly as early as later this month – making it the 17th company to be issued a license in the state’s quickly burgeoning online poker segment.
To their credit, Caesars isn’t waiting for the license to come out before setting plans on what they’ll do with as soon as they have it. The company has already announced its plans to launch its own online poker using its World Series of Poker brand as soon as its chief tech partner, 888 Holdings, gets its own license from Nevada.
