The ever expanding Facebook could possibly be expanding into the booming online gambling industry. Facebook seems to be seriously considering this, and by entering into the online gambling industry, they stand to bring in millions in revenue, especially if people would be able to play with real money.

Facebook played dinner host last week in London for industry representatives, and that’s when Facebook unveiled their latest plans. Shortly after that dinner, many Facebook users found out about their plans, and there has been a lot of backlash, especially in the United Kingdom.

The Daily Mail published an article that highlighted some of many negative reactions to the news that Facebook may start offering real money online gambling on the social networking site.

More than anything, it seems that in The Daily Mail article, there was a huge concern over underage gambling. In the United Kingdom, there are over 3 million users on Facebook that are between the ages of 13 to 17. On top of that, there’s an unaccounted number of users that have lied about their age in order to be able to have a Facebook user account, because the age limit is set at 13 years old.

Online gambling has been expanding around the globe at a rapid pace, but to bring real money online gambling to a social networking site like Facebook may perhaps be too soon. It has not been reported whether or not Facebook would also be attempting to enter the North American online gambling market.

Underage gambling is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem in the UK. Over the past decade is has become easier for underage gamblers to assume fake identities in order to wager on sporting events. Up until recently, the problem has been ignored, but now William Hill online casino is looking for a way to combat the issue.

In 2009, a study conducted by the UK Gambling Commission indicated that 98% of bookmakers across the UK allow underage individuals to place bets on various sporting events. The Association of British Bookmakers called the statistics embarrassing and are looking for ways to ensure that the percentage decreases significantly over the course of the next year.

William Hill ensures that 8100 of its employees have undergone extensive training, including workshops that inform them how to deal with a situation when they encounter an underage gambler. By October, William Hill will train an additional 2000, ensuring that its entire staffed has obtained sufficient training on how to deal with the issue.