New Jersey to Pursue Real Money Skill Gambling

With the current struggle of the casino industry and the rise of social gaming, it’s no wonder that gaming enforcements are now looking to create profit by conducting real money gambling on skill-based games, examples of which are Candy Crush, Farmville, and other very popular mobile phone gaming applications.

It has been predicted, that New Jersey will become a nationwide laboratory for betting phenomena. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement is actually already in the talks with some game developers, to create proposals for conducting real money gambling on skill-based mobile games. It’s not too far-fetched as there is quite a vast reach in the addictive nature of skill-based games. Almost everyone, who owns a smart phone, has played a skill-based game at least once in his or her life.

However, due to the easy accessibility and availability of the said mobile applications, some are worried that people may get over their heads, when involving real money in the game. But then again, New Jersey thinks that it is one of, if not the best, ways to keep the casino industry up and running.

Casual games are being played in abundance by different demographics across the United States so there is definitely a large market for the plans. According to David Rebuck, the director of New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement, “More and more we’ve been watching the social gaming arena and hearing about the opportunities it presents. We thought, ‘wait a minute. Why aren’t these companies coming to us?’ We are ready, willing, and able, under existing law, to deal with this. This is not theoretical anymore; this is real.”

Due to the abundant market of social gaming in the United States, Eric Meyerhofer, the CEO of Gamblit Gaming, adds that the potential market for social gaming betting could reach $8 billion to $10 billion.

Currently, most mobile games offer free play up to a certain limit. Players are then given the opportunity to purchase powerups, additional chances to play, or equipment to use in the game. Some people do not even feel like they’re burning their money in spending for such applications, due to the big in-game rewards. Pretty much like online gambling, it sucks you in until you kick the habit out.

So far, Zynga, a game developing company, has taken a pass on this sensation. They much prefer to focus on free play, rather than moving over to real money gambling on its platforms. For what New Jersey wants to pursue, game developers must collaborate with one of Atlantic City’s casinos and playing of the said real-money skill games must be done within New Jersey’s borders.