Merge Gaming Network. Merge Gaming is a longstanding network, at least in terms of the igaming space. They got their start as Poker.com in 2004, which because a standalone site a few years later when they decided to create the network. Shortly following the launch of the network, the started their flagship site (even to this day) Carbon Poker. The Merge Gaming Network is a highly scalable, highly stable online gaming platform enabling users to play poker and other online games securely, fairly, accountably, quickly and easily over the internet. Development is the core of Merge Gaming. A key to our software development has always been our unique software features.
The Merge Poker network, aka the Merge Gaming network, is the online home for all of your poker needs. With some of the best online poker sites combined together in the network, no matter what your favourite style of play is, you are sure to find it here with Merge Poker.
The online poker industry has blossomed in recent years with more and more new sites emerging to compete for players' attention. This is where the experience built up in creating hugely popular poker sites over the past few years really makes the difference. No two poker players are alike but knowing what poker players are looking for provides a great level of insight which manifests itself into the creation of the sites that players want to play.
News & Promotions
Get Aced When You Play Online Poker
Hearing an online poker site is closing down is always sad news and given the history of the PDC Poker brand, it isn't great news to hear that the site closed down on Tuesday the 12th of December. However, there is good news for everyone with the fact that all PDC players will be automatically moved over to their new home at Aced.com.
Changes to The Rake Structure On Fixed Limit Games
If you are a keen fixed limit game player, you will be interested to know that we have changed the rake structure on all of these games. This also includes FL Hold ‘Em, which is sure to affect plenty of players. There are a number of changes to go through so it is probably best that you take the time on site at the FAQ page. This may seem like a drag but given the importance of the rake in playing poker, you will hopefully find that it is of benefit in the long run!
Carbon Poker Taking you to the Punta Cana Poker Classic
One of the best things about playing online poker is that there are so many benefits to be had from playing in this fashion. The chance to win big money is always going to be a top feature for many poker players but there is a lot more to it than that. Some players find that their skills have improved dramatically by playing online and it is easy to make friends online by chatting to other players. There has always been a social aspect to poker and this has not been lost to online players. In addition to having fun, there is also the chance to pit your wits against some of the biggest names in the poker industry.
Bad Beat Jackpot Hits The Road From Merge
Any online poker player that has been enjoying the Bad Beat Jackpot (BBJ) that has been on offer in the Merge Gaming Network should be aware that the company plans to remove it once the current jackpot has been hit. At the time of writing, the BBJ is standing at a level of $322,000 so there is still time to get involved and bag a big prize but once it is gone, it is gone and the BBJ tables option will be removed from the network, including the Carbon Poker site.
Carbon Poker and PDC Poker Get Even Bigger Again
Even though many online casino and poker sites are huge names around the world, there is still a gnawing feeling about so many companies not operating in the United States. Many casino and poker players want to test their skills and mental strength against the best players in the world and the fact that so many players are not allowed to play together can be a frustrating factor for many people. There is also a lot to be said about the frustrations felt by US casino and poker fans who are very limited in their online options. Things are changing though and there is huge news for poker and casino fans.
Innovation is at the heart of Merge Poker
The Merge Poker network thrives on innovation and it is the gaming options that really help these sites stand out from other contenders for the online poker site crown. If you want to have more playing options, more gaming options and benefit from a wider range of promotions and tournaments, the Merge Poker network should be your home of online poker.
The software used by Merge Poker also brings the spirit of home poker into the online environment with a greater ability to interact with your fellow players. If you think that online poker lacks the atmosphere created when playing at home with friends, it is perhaps time to reconsider your views of online poker. It has never been easier, or more fun, to sympathise with or taunt your rivals on the Merge Poker network and this adds a whole new dimension to the game.
Do not forget that poker is as much about playing your opponent as it is about playing the cards and if you can interact with your fellow players and grab the upper hand, it could see you playing more winning hands than not, all of which adds to the excitement and tension that makes Poker one of the most popular activities.
Integrity and security is vital for any poker or gaming network
With online games, honesty and integrity is crucial to the success of a site and the Merge Gaming network software offers this in abundance. Every poker site on the Merge Poker network is accredited and recognised as being a provider of fair and secure online games. The success of a poker site depends as much upon its integrity as it does its range of games and the Merge Poker network is able to meet all industry standards and beyond. This means you can play in full confidence knowing that the only thing stopping you from winning is how you play and a little bit of luck.
You can also rest assured that the Merge Poker network takes your details and information very seriously and employs a number of safety measures and detection tools to make sure the poker playing environment is a safe one. Being able to put your trust into a poker site is crucial for any poker player as the peace of mind that comes from this reliability should free you up to concentrate fully on the poker.
Affiliates are welcome too at Merge Poker Network sites
Whether you are looking to play poker or set up an affiliates program to enjoy the benefits of working alongside the Merge Poker network, everything you could ever want or need is on this site. Poker should be a game of fun for everyone regardless of age, budget or background and this network creates a series of poker sites that will appeal to players across the board.
If you are looking for a great array of Poker sites, it would be hard to come across a better selection that one which contains:
- Carbon Poker – ChipSplit.com
- Aced – ChipSplit.com
and many more great poker sites.
It is this vast experience that allows the Merge Poker network to stand apart from many of the other networks online and with many more big name sites in the process of transferring across to the network, the future looks bright for Merge Poker. Customer feedback is always important for the progress and development of any poker network and these sites ensure that thoughts and opinions of the customer is never too far away from the forward planning of the network.
If you are interested in learning more about some of the poker sites available on the Merge Poker network, the following snippets will bring you up to speed with some of the best and most popular poker sites you can find online.
Want to have a look at another sites to compare with one of the Merge Gaming network rooms? Please have a look at PKR Bonus Code for information on the net's only 3D poker room. Another final suggestion would be Bonus Code Titan Poker, a site dedicated to the flagship poker room on the iPoker network, Europe's largest and fastest growing online poker network.
Merge Gaming is a longstanding network, at least in terms of the igaming space. They got their start as Poker.com in 2004, which because a standalone site a few years later when they decided to create the network. Shortly following the launch of the network, the started their flagship site (even to this day) Carbon Poker.
Like many players I'm fond of the software at Merge. Even when PokerStars accepted American players I would still play at Carbon because their software looked and functioned better than Stars did (at that time). The colors were richer and reminded me of a video game. On top of that they had neat features, side casino games and real money freerolls.
They've continued to improve over the last couple of years, adding new skins to the network, as well as casino games and a sportsbetting section to Carbon. So when you sign up to a Merge Gaming site, you don't just get a great poker experience, but you get a great all around casino experience as well.
Below I do my best to highlight their best software attributes.
Software Compatibility
All of the sites on the Merge Network have native downloads for both PC and Mac operating systems. Both work the same – download the installer to your computer, double click on it, click run and the software will install to your computer within a few minutes.
Mobile is a miss. The closest the network is to having a poker app is Carbon Poker. They came out with their beta in the beginning of 2013, and just released their real money beta to select members of 2+2 in August 2013. I predict seeing a release within the next 6-9 months.
In the meantime you can play casino games or bet on sports from your mobile device. Carbon Poker is all set there. Other sites will be hit or miss.
Available Games & Stakes at Merge Gaming
The best thing about the Merge Network is their huge selection of games. Most US facing sites stick to holdem, omaha and maybe 7-card stud. They don't have enough traffic to justify having tables for other games.
Merge carries those games, and then some. In addition to holdem, omaha and stud, you can also play razz and a variety of draw and mixed games. Stakes for these games start at .02/.04 and peak at 20/40 for cash, and are as high as $215-$530 for SNGs and MTTs. Variations for tournaments include 4 and 6-max, turbo, hyper turbo, deep stacks, knockouts, double or nothings, guarantees, live package qualifiers and more. You'll find everything under one roof.
That said, the biggest challenge here is the lack of traffic. Not to the site overall – Merge is one of the leading networksin that category. But even before Black Friday they struggled to funnel players to the lesser popular games. They still do today. However, if you want to play draw, razz or mixed poker, this is the best US network to do it on.
Compared to other networks Merge has far and away the most games. The stakes and variations are similar though. One thing that stands out about their guarantees is that some sites, like Carbon Poker, guarantee big numbers every month ($10 million). I can't think of another network or skin in the US that can make the same claim.
Other than poker the Merge Network is known for their side games. You can play video poker, blackjack and Caribbean stud. Of course, that's less of a big deal now that many sites on the network offer sportsbetting and casino games too. So the icing on those cakes would be the jackpots you could win while playing them, something the network is known for.
Lobby and Table Software Features
From an aesthetic and usability point of view, Merge Gaming is one of the best networks – US or international.
Starting with the lobby – the best thing about it is the filter. The setup is similar to Iginition Poker in that you'll start from the left hand side and choose the type of game (cash or tournament) you want to play. Moving to the right you'll choose the poker game, stakes, limit and variation. Then those games will be shown below. For cash game players there is a detailed filter that lets you narrow down your choices based on the average pot size, number of players to the flop, hands per hour and more. Although hidden, there is a quick seat feature too.
From the lobby you can also track ‘friends' or, in my case, track the fish. This is noteworthy if anything because of sites like Bovada and Lock Poker going out of their way to segregate or protect their recreational players. Carbon Poker is grinder friendly like that.
Gaming Network Switch
And depending on where you play (I prefer Carbon), you'll also have access to the casino and sportsbetting section from the poker lobby. You can also track sports lines from the bottom (of the lobby).
Now the games are where you'll see the software shine. The default graphics look good, but you have hundreds – possibly thousands – of combinations. Some sophisticated, others cartoony looking. All look better than what you'll find on the Chico Network. Anyway, you'll be able to choose different backgrounds, table rails, felt and card backs.
The standard options are available too. Things like stacking, tiling and cascading your tables, 4-color decks, automatic topping off of stacks, sounds off/on, etc. There are handy buttons for betting too, in various fractions like 1/3, 1/2 or 3/4 the pot or multipliers like 2x, 3x, 4x, etc.
What's not so standard are the features exclusive to Merge. This includes things like rabbit hunting, showing one card (to your opponent when you fold) and the option to run the hand twice in a heads up, all in situation. There are animated emoticons too, that you can use to taunt your opponents.
Last – Carbon Poker allows and is compatible with programs like Holdem Manager and Poker Tracker. Grinders have a place to play.
What I Like
There are several things I like. But what I like most is how clean, good looking and simple the software is. There is a good balance between looks and functionality.
That's closely followed by having tons of options for what games to play, even if the traffic is scarce to those sections at times. But not just to the poker games, but to the casino and sportsbetting games as well.
Merge Gaming Network Rigged
What I Don't Like
The only thing that stands out to me is the lack of a poker app. However, it sounds like Carbon Poker is well on their way in delivering that.
World Gaming Network
All in all – the Merge Network is easily the best network for US players. A mobile app would solidify that position
