MERGE GAMING NETWORK

Merge Gaming was originally launched as Poker.com - 'Home of online poker'. The software was developed in Brisbane Australia and was owned by two Australian business men. Poker.com had been a poker room before but turned into an affiliate operation only to become the poker network we now know as Merge Gaming. The 'Poker.com software' was sold after operating 3 years as a stand alone poker room. 

Merge Gaming launched its first skin in February 2007 called Carbon Poker which eventually became the brand name instead of Poker.com. The name Carbon Poker was chosen becasue it was supposed to be a "carbon copy" of Poker.com. 

At the same time PokerNordica launched as the first partner on the network. Till that point it had been an stand alone poker room.

Merge Gaming separated the network operation with its poker room. Merge Gaming was kept in Brisbane while Carbon Poker moved to Vancouver.

US players have always been welcome on the network with temporarily bans of certain states to avoid seizure of domains and problems with certain States as Kentucky.

Merge Gaming Statistics

Sportsbook.com joining the network changed the history of Merge Gaming for the better. The network liquidity was increased with 500% over night while its biggest competitor Revolution Gaming was crippled and left in disarray.

The owner of Sportsbook.com took 99% ownership of Merge Gaming and bailed Merge Gaming out of big financials problems. The poker brands such as Carbon Poker on the Merge Gaming Network was not included in the deal. 

In the months after Black Friday Merge Gaming got so many new players and credit card deposit requests that it had to stop accepting new US players. The network was blocked for new players between June & August 2011. Post Black Friday Merge Gaming Network grew another 100% making it the biggest US Poker Network in the world. Click here to see the Merge Gaming statistics

Originally rake back was not allowed on the network. The Merge Gaming executives however decided to change the network policy in the fall of 2007 due to pressure from its partners and the players. A 30% Daily Rake Back program was introduced and managed by the network. Only one rake back account was allowed on the network which protected Carbon Poker's 2 million strong player database.

The network did not fine or exclude poker rooms for violating the network policy in the first years. That changed in April 2009 since the network got the critical liquidity it needed to be able to exclude partners without hurting the business.

Merge Gaming offers VIP Program up to 47% Cash back. You trade points for $. The more points you accumulate and cash in the more you benefit. It is possible to get under the table deals on the network but they are not as common as they were before April 2009.

	Carbon Poker is owned by people who originally started Merge Gaming who later sold the software company to Sportsbook.com
	Sportsbook.com bought 99% of Merge Gaming
	PDC stands for Poker Dot Com and was one of the original brands promoted by PDC Affiliates. Same ownership as Carbon Poker
	Carbon Poker bought the poker room when it got in financial trouble and owed the network money

	Lock Poker joined Merge in 2010 but went back to Cake Network / Revolution Gaming in the fall of 2012
	The first skin on Merge, PokerNordica, closed in 2012 due to tax debts and unsubstantial income