Zynga is pairing up with MDI Entertainment in a multi-year deal that’s aimed at bringing lottery play to social gaming…and social gaming to the lottery. Lottery affiliates, scratch card affiliates, listen up!
The multi-year licensing deal gives MDI, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Inc., exclusive rights to use popular titles like FarmVille; CityVille; Zynga Poker; Zynga Bingo; Zynga Slingo; Words With Friends; and Draw Something in their lottery offerings.
MDI will also be using Zynga titles to promote their increasingly popular second chance lotteries. On this side of the deal, customers with losing scratch card tickets can redeem them for virtual prizes on the games.
The announcement is a rare bit of good news for the social gaming giant, which has seen its fortunes turn for the worse recently. Besides plummeting stock prices, Zynga’s user base has been seriously battered by the rise of mobile games, and the recent loss of top executives.
There’s no word yet on when the Zynga-branded lottery products… or lottery affiliate programs… will hit the market.
Are lotteries and social gaming a good fit? Share your opinion in the comments section below.