Merge Gaming Network of Poker Rooms Due Dilegence
A full, detailed look at the Merge Gaming Network, Merge's history as a provider of online poker, the evolution of Merge into the online poker network they are today.
Introducing the Merge Gaming Network
The Merge Network of Poker Rooms emerged in February 2007, shortly after the 2007 Aussie Millions. At this time, poker.com (the then flagship poker room of this network's history) reorganized itself as a poker portal providing poker commentary and links to other online poker rooms, such as FullTilt Poker. It was at this time that Carbon Poker emerged as the flagship of the Merge Gaming Network in what was seemingly a rebranding of the Poker.com online card room. However, I do not believe this to be the case.
What Online Poker Rooms belong to the Merge Poker Network?
I'll get more into detail with who all belongs to the Merge Gaming Network shortly. The Online Poker Circuit's main list of Merge Gaming Network online poker rooms are as follows:
I'm a player residing in the USA, can I play there?
The Merge Network has not cut the American marketplace out of the equation. US Citizens are welcome on the Merge Platform. Regardless of where you live, you may first wish to review your federal, state, and local laws to decide for yourself whether or not playing poker online - a skill-based competition with elements of chance involved - is legal in your specific jurisdiction.
How can I deposit on the Merge Network?
The minimum deposit amount within the Merge Network is $10. The Merge Network offers a wide variety of payment options including:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Click2Pay
- Neteller
- 1-Pay
- Moneybookers
- EcoCard
- eWalletXpress
- Pic-Club
- ClickandBuy
- Entropay
- Secure eCheck
- Pay Safe Card
I should point out that each individual skin or poker room housed on the Merge Network processes their own transactions. As a result, deposit options may vary Merge Room to Merge room.
How do I withdrawal Money from Merge?
Withdrawals from your player account on one of the Merge Network skins is generally processed within 72 hours of request. From my experience, this occurs much faster though. Additionally, with some of the skins, you're able to apply for immediate cashout privileges, where your money instantaneously transacts. The minimum cashout on the network is $25, though once again - policies vary poker site to merge poker site, so you will want to check each individual skin for confirmation on this matter. I will do my best to list these details on my individual Merge Poker Room reviews.
What sets the Merge Network apart from the rest of the Online Poker World?
Is Merge Gaming a follower, or is Merge's Poker Network an innovator you ask? It is my belief, without question that the Merge Network is one of the most flexible, innovative poker networks in the world of poker on the web today. From their innovative software features, which include the ability to rabbit hunt, to exposing 1 card the software look and feel is of superior quality. Additionally, Merges' software allows one to either show their accolades or not, and to display smiley faces, or emoticons to communicate, taunt, or even sympathize with your fellow poker players.
Additionally, Merges' marketing strategy has adapted greatly over the course of the last few years. In the early stages, Merge was rather unsuccessful at attracting the higher stakes online poker player. Adjusting their focus, and their flexible overall marketing strategy Merge will soon be a bigtime player in the High Stakes Poker arena. Attempts as a network to entice the high stakes player include the introduction of the Bad Beat Jackpot, the spread of poker variations, the offering of various skill games such as Euchre and Backgammon, as well as other casino games of chance such as Blackjack.
Furthermore, Merge has an increasingly attractive poker tournament spread they offer as a network. Recently, Merge bagan offering bounty tournaments, and have stepped up the occurrence of Guaranteed prize pool tournaments - all this done with the intent of attracting the heavy hitters in the online poker community. Merge has also paved the way for affiliates to offer attractive rakeback programs, as well as other neat VIP type items for their player's as rewards for their business. Merge is definitely innovative, flexible, and well respected by me in the online poker realm.
Bottom line me... Do you trust them?
It makes most sense to take a top down approach when assigning trust. I ask myself, do I trust the online poker industry. As a whole, I have to answer yes, despite some bad eggs (Absolute Poker, Ultimate Bet, CheckNRaise, CardSpike - to name a few).
I then question, as a network do I trust the Merge Network? I put my full trust in Merge Gaming. From meeting the higher ups personally, to my dealings with them, and from seeing them deal with others... in Merge I trust - as an online poker network.
As for each of the individual rooms within Merge, well - you'll have to read my reviews of select Merge Network Poker Rooms to find that out, I guess... Speaking of individual poker rooms, feel free to visit any of the following Merge Poker Rooms:
What kind of poker variations does Merge Offer?
Merge Gaming Network has a diverse offering of real poker cash game tables. Recently, the Merge Gaming Network has done a good job of ramping up its higher stakes cash game tables. Merge Gaming Network offers the following online poker variations:
- Texas Hold em
- Limit Texas Hold'em (a specified or "structured" betting limit in each game and on each round of betting)
- Pot Limit Texas Hold em (a poker player can bet a maximum of what is in the pot)
- No Limit Texas Hold'em (a poker player may choose to bet all of their chips at any time)
- Omaha - The Merge poker software supports Omaha poker variations which include:
- Omaha High
- Limit Omaha High - (there is a structured, predetermined betting limit in each round of betting)
- Pot Limit Omaha High (a player can bet what is in the pot at most)
- No Limit Omaha High - (a player can shove all of their chips at any time)
- Omaha Hi/Lo - (also known as Omaha High Low, Omaha H/L/8, PLO8, Omaha/8)
- Stud poker - Merge poker software supports Stud poker variations which include:
- Five card stud poker
- Seven Card Stud poker
- Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo (also 7 Card Stud High Low, H/L/8)
- Razz
- Draw Poker - Merge poker software hosts Draw poker variations which include:
- Deuce to 7 Lowball
- Badugi
- Five card draw
- H.O.R.S.E - a mixed game where multiple poker variations are played at set intervals (i.e. - the poker game changes every ten minutes).
- H: Texas Hold em (no limit variation)
- O: Omaha Eight or better (a.k.a. Omaha High-Low)
- A: Omaha High
- R: Razz
- S: Seven card Stud
- E: Seven card stud Eight or better
The letters for these mixed poker games are made up from the following :
There are several common variations of H.O.R.S.E mixed games such as H.O.S.E and S.H.O.E. The poker software, when playing at Merge poker rooms, allow you to choose and mix which ever your players like for example R.A.S.H. or H.O.
Additionally, blackjack, roulette, Caribbean stud, video poker, backgammon, euchre are all offered on most of the Merge Gaming Network online poker rooms.
What poker tournament variations are offered on Merge?
Though exact tournament offerings vary from skin to skin on Merge Net, you can expect to find a spread of bounty tournaments, shootout tournaments, freerolls, guaranteed poker tournaments, PIC Club Pro tournaments, Ladies only poker tournaments, satellites to larger online events, as well as satellites to huge live events like the Aussie Millions or the WSOP.
Domains and current poker rooms I can associate Directly with Merge Gaming
As promised, the complete list of poker rooms and domains who are or have been associated with the Merge Poker Network:
- carbonpoker.com
- poker.com
- pdcaffiliates.com
- pdcpoker.com
- pokercs.com
- poker.cc
- mergegaming.com
- onlinegambling.com
- pokernordica.com
- ironduke.com
- texasholdem.com
- goldenarchpoker.com
- rumblepoker.com
- pokerciry.com
- jampoker.com
- walkerpoker.com
- g2gpoker.com
- spin32poker.com
- luckyhog.com
- reeferpoker.com
- wasspoker.com
- rpmpoker.com
- aced.com
- optimuspoker.com
- kingsclubpoker.com
- itsrealpoker.com
- ultgameroom.com
- blackchippoker.com
- bigbetpoker.com
Major Professional Poker Players and Celebrities I can tie to the Merge Network
- Young Phan
- Marsha Waggoner
- T.J. Cloutier
- Amir Vahedi
- Kathy Liebert
- David Levi
- Paul Darden
- Warren Karp
- Kenna James
- Barbra Enright
- James Worth
- Tom McEvoy
- Jamie Gold
- Jennifer "Jennicide" Leigh
- Tina Wallmann
Complete history of the Merge Network of Poker Rooms
The complete Merge Gaming Network history is best told through its original poker site, poker.com - now PDC Poker. Click for the complete history and ultimate online poker circuit PDC Poker site review - Merge Network skin and founding member of the Merge Gaming Network.