Facebook, the social networking giant seems to have its eye on gambling.
The social media company has set up a real-money gambling app, the first in the world of online gambling. The game was developed by the London-based Gamesys, UK's largest online gambling operators.
Users 18 and above will be allowed to play bingo for online cash prizes on Facebook. In the coming weeks, slot machine games will also be added.
"Gambling is very popular and well regulated in the UK...for millions of bingo users it's already a social experience [so] it makes sense [for us] to offer that as well," Julien Codorniou, Facebook's head of gaming for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told The Financial Times.
The new Bingo Friendzy app will only be offered to its UK members starting on Tuesday. Other social networking sites might also be introducing gambling to boost their revenues. Facebook's largest gaming partner, Zynga is planning to introduce real-money gambling versions of its poker, bingo, and slot machine games in 2013.
"Real money gaming is a popular and well-regulated activity in the UK, and we are allowing a partner to offer their games to adult users on the Facebook platform in a safe and controlled manner," said Facebook spokeswoman.
Age-gating technology will be used by Facebook to disable users below 18 and "vulnerable people" from using the app. Normally, Facebook takes a cut of 30 percent for transactions, but it would not confirm if it does the same even for this venture, as it was "commercially sensitive information."
Gamesys, operates Sun Bingo and Heart Bingo, as well as Jackpotjoy.com, U.K.'s leading bingo-and-slots site. Its gambling activities are licensed and regulated by the government of Gibraltar. The company has said users will be given access to self-help tools so that they do not get addicted to gambling and will set spending limits.
Facebook said it is introducing it in U.K as there is "a mature and very well-regulated gambling market."
In U.S., the law forbids online gambling targeting U.S. citizens.
Check out the game trailer:
