London, Dec 3 (ANI): Facebook has been accused of luring children into gambling after the world's biggest social network site planned to introduce real cash games.
The firm wants to use Britain as a testing ground for the games that would let users gamble on virtual fruit machines, bingo, poker and roulette.
Facebook, that already allows members to play on slot machine games and bingo using 'virtual credits' instead of real money, is now investigating ways of transforming that model into one that would offer real cash prizes.
Critics expressed fears that the proposals would create a generation that believes gambling is safe and fun, the Daily Mail reports.
"Introducing gambling to Facebook is a cynical way for the gambling industry to find new markets, making gambling look acceptable," the paper quoted Dr Robert Lefever, founding director of the Promis Recovery Centre which treats addicts, as saying.
"There will be young people who think these games have Facebook approval, that you can gamble and it's fun. It's not, gambling destroys families," he added.
Labour MP Louise Ellman pointed out that introducing gambling to Facebook is a cynical way for the gambling industry to find new markets, making gambling look acceptable.
"I'm very concerned about this move by Facebook and the impact it might have on children and other vulnerable people," Ellman added.
According to the paper, Facebook is understood to have plans to offer eight licences to Internet gaming companies to roll out their gambling applications on the British platform.
Talks between Facebook and around 20 senior gaming experts, operators and consultants including executives from PokerStars, 888 and Gamesys, were revealed by the industry magazine eGaming Review. (ANI)
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