Lock Poker Departure Spells Dramatic Loss for Merge

Preliminary numbers are in and it appears the Merge Gaming Network will see a sharp decline in traffic following the exit of marquee brand Lock Poker. 

Lock left Merge May 31, 2012, citing “growing pains”.  It has since started a brand new online poker network, combining forces with Cake Poker to develop the Revolution Gaming Network. 

Merge, which for the first time ever reached the number 7 spot of most trafficked Web gambling sites last week, has since dropped back to number 8 as of Saturday morning.  Revolution Gaming was averaging approximately 50 more cash players than Merge over the last 48 hours of its existence.  Gambling911.com believes that both networks could be fighting for the number 9 spot in the next two weeks. 

Preliminary numbers indicated the following: 

Merge Gaming

Merge Gaming Last Thursday Night: 2744

Merge Gaming Wednesday Night: 3152

Merge Gaming Thursday Night: 1800 (est)

Difference: -34%

Revolution Gaming

Cake Poker Last Thursday Night: 875

Cake Poker Wednesday Night: 935

Revolution Gaming Thursday Night: 1500 (est)

Difference: 71%

These numbers support the notion that Lock Poker could have represented as much as 40 percent of Merge Gaming’s overall business, a number sources close to Gambling911.com had previously mentioned. 

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com