Merge Signups Surge


Wednesday, October 26, 2011 : Networks decision to embrace new US player action still paying off as signups surge
 
The latest weekly report from the independent online poker monitor Pokerscout shows that Merge Poker Network’s decision to continue taking new US signups is paying handsome dividends.
 
PokerScout.com reported a worldwide drop of 1.2 percent from the prior week as nine of the top 10 sites saw declines in traffic, but at Merge the network boasted an increase of 13 percent from the previous week and moved into the top 10 rankings.
 
The network has seen Merge traffic grow by 21 percent since making the decision.
 
The big operators like PokerStars, PartyPoker and iPoker are still top of the tree, but all three saw drops in traffic from the previous week.
 
Other moves included:
 
• Microgaming Network passed Winamax.fr to retake eighth place.
• PeoplesNetwork.it edged ahead of IPN and into 14th place.
 
Compared with this time last year, online poker traffic has decreased by 34 percent.
 
Notable gainers are Merge Gaming Network (now up 77 percent); 888Poker (up 77 percent); Yatahay (up 70 percent); Action Poker Network (up 159 percent) and Bodog (up 50 percent), whilst decliners include PokerStars (down 19 percent) the Cake Poker Network (down 20 percent).