Facebook Real-Money Gambling App Launched in UK

Up until this week the mega-popular social networking site Facebook only offered online gambling for Facebook credits but this week that will all change as Facebook launches the 1st real-money gambling app on its platform called Bingo and Slots Friendzy.

The app, which will be available this week, is designed by UK-based gaming company Gamesys which has already released other products on Facebook including Sun Bingo and Heart bingo plus Gamesys has a gambling website for slots and bingo called Jackpotjoy.com. The app will be available to UK Facebook members that are at least 18 years old. Both companies are setting tools in place to help identify underage members or high-risk members.

The UK is somewhat being used as a testing ground for Facebook to offer real-money gambling. The UK was chosen because they have a stable and regulated gambling market plus the country leans heavily towards games like bingo which have a natural social component making it a great app for Facebook which is often used for socialization.

Even though many people are excited about what this app could mean for other gaming companies and Facebook members in other countries, it is not without potential problems. One main concern is that the real-money app may encourage hackers who are after monetary gain to hack the website. This concern is valid since Facebook was hacked once before in December of 2011. A second concern that is being raised is by those who feel that the app’s graphics and style will appeal to the underage members of Facebook. Even though Facebook does its best to block underage users, it is reported that the site currently has over 1 million underage members.