iGaming Business – US gaming and lottery technology firm Scientific Games has gained approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission for its acquisition of slot machine provider WMS Industries, but social gaming company Zynga has withdrawn its application for an interactive gaming licence in the US state.
The acquisition deal was first approved by WMS stockholders in May of this year and is expected to be completed this autumn, subject to the approval of gaming regulatory authorities and customary closing conditions.
“We are pleased to have received unanimous approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission and thank the Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board for their diligence in reviewing and approving our transaction,” chairman and chief executive officer of Scientific Games, A. Lorne Weil, said.
While Scientific Games is set for further activity in Nevada, Zynga on the other hand has ended its interest in growing its presence in the state by withdrawing its application for an interactive gaming licence.
According to USPoker.com, Zynga appears on the September Nevada Gaming Control Board preliminary agenda with the company’s action listed as a “request to withdraw application”.
The request to withdraw was granted by the current agenda – a move confirmed by a source at Zynga.
The decision comes shortly after Zynga announced its intention to abandon real-money gambling plans in the US in its second-quarter financial reports.
An excerpt from the Q2 report said: “Zynga believes its biggest opportunity is to focus on free-to-play social games.
“While the company continues to evaluate its real money gaming products in the United Kingdom test, Zynga is making the focused choice not to pursue a licence for real-money gaming in the United States.”
Despite the move, Zynga continues to operate ZyngaPlusPoker, a skin on the Party Poker Network that offers real-money online poker to players in the UK.
