New sports casino launched on Facebook

Sports betting games developer RocketPlay, formerly known as Gamingo, is launching a new title on Facebook branded Sports Casino.

The app is designed to create a Vegas-style sportsbook betting experience, in which users place virtual bets on global sports with real-time odds and can take part in other casino games like video poker, blackjack and slots as a diversion.

RocketPlay accompanied the launch with an announcement that it is partnering with social gaming giant Zynga. The association of the two companies has the potential to bring the new game to Zynga’s 306 million monthly active players and will have a social element due its Facebook presence.

A company spokesman said this week that Sports Casino taps into the emerging two-screen habits of male sports fans, taking advantage of the social elements of watching a game on TV and sharing personal commentaries, information and bets.

“The service provides betting on professional and college football as well as baseball and international soccer,” he said, adding that RocketPlay hopes to add hockey, basketball and other games in the near future.

Although the app currently uses only virtual currency, RocketPlay has developed Sports Casino to take advantage of the rising importance of real-money gambling in the social space as opportunities arise and legal restrictions are eased.

RocketPlay is funded by Pitango Venture Capital and has offices in London, San Francisco and Tel Aviv.