International Business Times UK, the London-based Daily Mail, CNet and any number of online casino industry publications have been breathlessly reporting this week on the possibility that Facebook will begin hosting internet gambling services on the social networking ‘site – at least for a U.K. test market.

Facebook is reportedly planning for an IPO offering which could value the company at $100 billion plus and would put shares on the New York Stock Exchange as early as April 2012; CNet, among others, speculates that the investigation into gambling site hosting is an attempt to make potential profit look more promising in advance of the IPO.

According to industry publication eGaming Review, Facebook is currently in negotiation/advisory meeting with 20 consultants, experts in the field and some website representatives. ZDNet reported that current plans would have Facebook awarding eight licenses in areas of sportsbook, casinos and other verticals; Gamesys and 888.com are widely reported to have the inside track in acquiring two of these permissions.

In answer to publicly-voiced fears that gambling interests on Facebook could easily prey on the underage, Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes was quoted on CNet as stating that “Our commitment to providing a safe, secure and appropriate experience for teenagers is a fundamental principle of Facebook. The suggestion that we would make any decision that doesn’t carefully consider the impact on this audience is short-sighted and, frankly, offensive to the hundreds of people who work to keep kids safe and the many parents at Facebook.”