From Ozarks First – Love a sunny day at the racetrack, betting on the pretty horses with colorful silks and catchy names? Now you can enjoy betting at home with DerbyJackpot.com. Aimed at the casual gambler who isn’t tethered to the racing form, the online betting forum is social, easy and 24/7. Not all states offer the opportunity to bet or win real money, but thousands of people are cashing in—and in some cases, losing. Nonetheless, Derby Jackpot devotees can’t seem to resist the pre-race email, reminding them that the gray horse put money in their pocket last time it hit the track . . . and that a click of the app might just result in another photo finish worth bragging about as you cheer your horse on, live on Facebook.

Social networking connected us first to our friends, then to our interests, and now to our games. As gamification becomes a mainstream trend among Facebook users, the sharing and publishing of your in-game accomplishments has become less of a bragging right and more of a feature to help you win. Players get bonus points for sharing their accomplishments across their friends list (despite however annoying it may be) and leverage it as a competitive advantage. As we move closer and closer to having access to all forms of entertainment on the Web, gambling is getting a second chance with the inclusion of social betting. Winning is good, but it’s even better when everyone knows about it.

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