Zynga applies for gambling license with the state of Nevada

Social game developer Zynga is one step closer to featuring real money gambling (RMG) in its games after it filed an Application for a Preliminary Finding of Suitability from the Nevada Gaming Control Board this week.

In a statement released today, Zynga's Chief Revenue Officer, Barry Cottle confirmed that the filing was made this week and that it "continues [Zynga's] strategic effort to enter regulated RMG markets in a prudent way."

The statement continues:

We anticipate that the process will take approximately 12 to 18 months to complete. As we've said previously, the broader U.S. market is an opportunity that's further out on the horizon based on legislative developments, but we are preparing for a regulated market. We've also recently partnered with bwin.party to bring the highest quality real money gaming experiences to our UK players in the first half of 2013.

Zynga currently has a range of casino games like Zynga Poker, Zynga Slots, Zynga Poker, Zynga Elite Slots and Zynga Slingo, but none of them feature real money gambling due to restrictions in the U.S. concerning online gambling. The company's UK partnership with bwin.party was announced in October. Earlier this year, Zynga hired the former VP of online gambling portal 888, Maytal Ginzburg Olsha, to be its Chief Operating Officer of New Markets.