Online social gaming provider Zynga has begun offering real money poker to UK residents on Facebook.
The Facebook app called “Zynga Plus Poker” will let UK residents play for real stakes through cash games and tournaments. The new Facebook offering is the result of an agreement between Facebook and Zynga made in 2012, stating if Zynga were ever to release real money games they would be obligated to port the games as Facebook apps. A dedicated real money poker client was released by Zynga in April 2013, consequently resulting in the new Facebook app being launched. The initial Zynga Plus Poker dedicated client is also limited to UK residents at this time.
Zynga Plus Poker is based on the PartyPoker network, a network also used by bwin.party, GameBookers, WPT Poker and many others. The PartyPoker network integration spawned from a partnership between Zynga and bwin.party.
The Facebook version of Zynga Plus Poker was first unveiled to over 300 delegates at the World Gaming Executive Summit this last July.
This is not Facebook’s first foray into real money gaming, and has been offering online bets on the Bingo & Slots Friendzy app to UK residents since August 2012.
Zynga recently began to support Bitcoin for certain games and in-app purchases. There is no word yet if the new Bitcoin payment feature will make its way to Zynga Plus Poker.
