by Renee Israel
eGR Magazine revealed last week that representatives from social
networking group, Facebook, met with online gambling industry executives late
last month to discuss the possibility of introducing real cash games on
Facebook.
According to the report, Facebook met with executives from 888 Holdings,
Gamesys, and PokerStars to see how to set the wheels in motion to introduce
online gambling in Facebook for the enjoyment of millions.
However, the "Facebook online gambling rumours" are being described as just
that, rumours. Although interestingly, Facebook has not denied them outright. In
fact, in a statement the social networking site said: "We are always in
discussions with companies about lots of different ideas, but we don't comment
on future plans or speculation."
Said eGR's editor, James Bennett, "Facebook is looking for new revenue
streams and the online gambling industry is looking for new markets. There is a
lot of work needed to be done, not least what percentage of revenues gambling
companies would have to give away to Facebook and the issue of age
verification."
This very point of age verification has triggered fears among UK politicians
and social groups, who oppose the fact that online gambling will be introduced
to children far too young for this form of entertainment.
Over three million Facebook users in the UK are between the ages of 13 and
17, although it is believed that there are as many as one million more younger
members, pretending to be over 13 (the minimum age required to open a Facebook
account).
Learning the Mechanics of Online Gambling
According to Prof. Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trenty University, even if
real money doesn't exchange hands among younger Facebook members, young children
are "learning the mechanics of gambling."
"These games can be a gateway to more serious gambling," he said.
These fears were echoed by Lauri Moyle of Christian Action Research Education
(CARE) who said: "Because there is a link between the age when people start
gambling and the likelihood of developing a difficulty controlling their
gambling, protecting children from the normalisation of gambling is vital."
According to reports, Facebook is planning to offer eight licenses to online
gambling companies to offer their applications on its UK platform. Groups such
as Gamesys and the London listed 888 are believed to be among the first in line
to apply for these licenses, which could be issued next year.
Facebook is planning flotation next year and is estimated to be worth around
£64 billion.
