Recently, the Merge Gaming Network, whose sites include Carbon Poker and Poker Nordica, announced that players will now be able to receive rakeback on tournament and sit and go fees. The move follows a similar policy change by Ultimate Bet, which makes its home on the CEREUS poker network.
Rakeback is a popular way for players to be able to fund their bankrolls without having to deposit over and over. An online poker room, in part, makes money by charging a rake, or “juice” as it’s sometimes called. Money scraped out of each pot funds the online poker room’s operations, including personnel, marketing, and guaranteed tournament prize pools. Rake exists in cash games based on the size of the pot and tournaments based on the buy-in. Sites such as ThisIsTheNuts.com make their livelihood on offering rakeback promotions.
Previously, Merge Gaming Network players could only receive rakeback on ring game play. Now, tournament fees, including those charged for multi-table and sit and go events, are also eligible. The Network’s full slate of poker rooms includes Carbon Poker, Poker Nordica, PDC Poker, IronDuke, TexasHoldem.com, Golden Arch Poker, Rumble Poker, Poker City, Jam Poker, Walker Poker, G2G Poker, Spin32 Poker, LuckyHog, Reefer Poker, WassPoker, RPM Poker, Aced, and Optimus Poker.
Merge Gaming members can take part in satellites into live tournaments across the world, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP), World Poker Tour (WPT), Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), and Aussie Millions. The APPT is one of several tournament series operated by PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site. According to traffic ranking site PokerScout.com, the Merge Gaming Network ranks as the 19th biggest in terms of cash game traffic with a seven day running average of 355 players. At the time of writing, which is prime time throughout Europe, it is home to 4,028 total players. Its Texas Hold’em Bad Beat Jackpot is over $1 million.
In order for Merge Gaming Network players to qualify for the Bad Beat Jackpot in Hold’em, four sevens must lose to a superior hand. Both the winning and losing hands need to contain both hole cards and at least four players must have been dealt to when the action started. At least $0.50 in rake must have been generated and the hand should go to showdown. Its software features a Quick Seat option as well as the possibility of rabbit hunting, showing one card to opponents, and utilizing multiple windows.
The decision to allow rakeback on tournament and sit and go entry fees echoes a recent one made by Ultimate Bet, which is part of the CEREUS poker network. Ultimate Bet just upped the ante of its Wednesday $100,000 Guaranteed tournament, bumping the prize pool to $150,000 while maintaining the same $1,000 buy-in. The site’s marquee tournament is the $215 buy-in $200,000 Guaranteed, which can be accessed by players on both Ultimate Bet and sister site Absolute Poker. The latter site also allows players to reap rakeback on tournament fees.
Rakeback can be found on some of the world’s largest online poker rooms, including Full Tilt Poker, Cake Poker, and Paradise Poker. A handful of sites such as PayNoRake.com have also popped up which offer players the opportunity to earn up to 100% rakeback daily. The competition within the industry is fierce, especially as U.S. players have encountered issues depositing due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was passed in 2006.
This is really an exciting decision fro these guys.This will be really helpfull for them and this will fetch them lot of new customers.