The news, in case you missed it, came last Friday when a company called 888 confirmed it will begin operating online poker games as soon as May alongside established casinos like Treasure Island and Caesars. The move comes in response to the federal government’s decision in 2011 that online gambling is no longer illegal if states explicitly permit it; Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have so far passed laws to allow it.

So why is the 888 news not a big deal? According to a source who works in the gambling industry, 888′s opportunity comes with two major strings attached: it is limited to players physically in the state of Nevada and it only covers poker. The second condition is important because poker depends on player liquidity, which means it is less lucrative for the house than games like roulette or slots.

The source, who did not want to be identified, added that the online gambling industry is focusing instead on developments in New Jersey which has a much larger population (8.8M versus 2.7M in Nevada) and where the state law permits all casino floor games, not just poker.

In the bigger picture, even New Jersey is unlikely to be a game changer given that online gaming companies still have to cater to players on a state by state basis.

“It’s like taking the stock exchange and dividing it by 50. You have to ring fence players, and then account for whether the legal age is 18 or 21,” said the source, adding that the industry is crossing their fingers for a big state to come on board. “If Texas or California falls, that would be a more interesting thing.”

The online gaming industry, which was chased out of the United States in 2006, is also hoping for a bigger breakthrough in the form of new federal legislation that would establish unified rules and protocols across the country.

The outcome is important because potentially hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for online gaming giants like Bwin that currently operate in Britain and elsewhere, and for fading social gaming sites like Zynga that are desperate for a new revenue stream. Finally, casino centers like Atlantic City are desperate to get a piece of the online action to make up for business they’ve lost to other states and venues.

(Image by  Doug Stevensvia Shutterstock)

UK online bingo game maker Gamesys‘ new game Bingo & Slots Friendzy is the first on Facebook App Centre to pay real cash prizes; several more are likely to follow. Release.

While U.S. regulators only recently began allowing some kinds of online gambling on a state-by-state basis, it is commonplace in the UK – a nation usually marked by greater regulatory control. Furthermore, recent deregulation of gambling advertising has prompted news publishers, bookmakers and various other brands to launch their own bingo and betting games, promoted through day-time TV ad campaigns.

Bingo & Slots Friendzy will be accessible only to those aged 18 and over. Gamesys promises: “A series of controls will be in place to protect under 18s and vulnerable people. In line with industry standard gambling legislation, all users will have access to a number of self-help tools to limit their spending and exclude themselves from playing at anytime.”

Facebook’s alternative to its core advertising earnings is its Facebook Payments stream, which has relied heavily on payments from Zynga games that are becoming less popular. Facebook Payments revenue grew a disappointing three percent through Q2 this year…

So Facebook Payments could stand to benefit from online bingo fans who pay money to play on the platform, which will also allow users to play along with friends.

There is another category of operator which could also benefit from the move. Gamesys also powers the bingo platforms for News International’s Sun Bingo and Fabulous Bingo sites – two of the largest in the UK. The market has become fiercely competitive, with Trinity Mirror’s rival Mirro Bingo losing players over the last year for example. If Gamesys or other vendors take their clients’ games to Facebook, the publishers could find new audiences of players.