Lock Poker Acquiring The Cake Network, Leaving Merge

[BeerAndPoker]

http://www.gambling911.com/poker/wor...ge-050612.html

World Exclusive: Lock Poker Acquiring The Cake Network, Leaving Merge

Gambling911.com has learned exclusively from a very reliable source that Lock Poker, one of the largest rooms on the Internet, will be taking over the Cake Poker Network.

Lock, which is widely believed to be one of the top three largest rooms on the Merge Network, will be leaving that network to take control of Cake.

It was explained that as part of the deal, Cake and its current marquee brand, Intertops Poker, are believed to be continuing to operate as separate rooms and there are no plans to integrate them.

According to Gambling911.com sources familiar with the deal, Lock will be re-branding the network, driving technology, marketing, player rewards, implementing a more aggressive tournament schedule and incorporating a new company philosophy, essentially restructuring the entire Cake Poker Network.

Our sources also advise that the popular rakeback program previously offered by Lock Poker will be returning with an even higher percentage rate, though few other specifics were given.

Our source also advised that the Lock Pros will remain a pivotal feature of the network with others likely to come on board during the summer. Lock Poker recently signed on the first ever World Series of Poker Europe Main Event winner, Annette Obrestad.

It was not immediately known if or when the LockOPs Lock Poker Series will be reintroduced after abruptly being cancelled by the Merge Gaming Network late last month, though our source indicates this Series could be re-introduced over the coming months.

Series 2012 qualifiers and the Turbo Gold cards currently offered on Cake are expected to continue.

As Lock has their own stand-alone cashier, the move is expected to have no impact on players.

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Submitted by C Costigan on Sun, 05/06/2012 - 12:32

[Dan Druff]

This is good and bad.

It's good in that it will force all people who still want to play on Merge to choose another (far more honest) skin. I've been pushing for months now for Merge players to leave Lock and go to other skins. Now they will have to.

The bad comes in two forms:

1) Lock will be controlling a whole network. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

Lock was on the Cake network before going to Merge, btw.

I believe something like this was inevitable, since Lock and Merge have had a bad relationship for the past year, hitting its worst point when Merge canceled the LockOps series.

If you are a Lock player, I would get your $ off NOW (if possible) because I think the whole thing will crash down if they can't get enough traffic on the new network.

[tommyt]

This is good and bad.

It's good in that it will force all people who still want to play on Merge to choose another (far more honest) skin. I've been pushing for months now for Merge players to leave Lock and go to other skins. Now they will have to.

The bad comes in two forms:

1) Lock will be controlling a whole network. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

Lock was on the Cake network before going to Merge, btw.

I believe something like this was inevitable, since Lock and Merge have had a bad relationship for the past year, hitting its worst point when Merge canceled the LockOps series.

If you are a Lock player, I would get your $ off NOW (if possible) because I think the whole thing will crash down if they can't get enough traffic on the new network.

i agree. but what do you mean crash down? i guess you mean in relation to having enough money to operate?

makes me really consider americas card room imo

[GDog1666]

Will they still take US players on the Cake Network if this happens?

[Dan Druff]

Will they still take US players on the Cake Network if this happens?

Why wouldn't they? Lock is a US-facing room.

[Dan Druff]

This is good and bad.

It's good in that it will force all people who still want to play on Merge to choose another (far more honest) skin. I've been pushing for months now for Merge players to leave Lock and go to other skins. Now they will have to.

The bad comes in two forms:

1) Lock will be controlling a whole network. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

Lock was on the Cake network before going to Merge, btw.

I believe something like this was inevitable, since Lock and Merge have had a bad relationship for the past year, hitting its worst point when Merge canceled the LockOps series.

If you are a Lock player, I would get your $ off NOW (if possible) because I think the whole thing will crash down if they can't get enough traffic on the new network.

i agree. but what do you mean crash down? i guess you mean in relation to having enough money to operate?

makes me really consider americas card room imo

Yes. At least before Merge might have backed your funds if Lock vanished or went broke.

Now, as the owner of the Cake Network, you will be fucked if they ever run out of money or just disappear.

[BuSTMeANuT]

This is good and bad.

It's good in that it will force all people who still want to play on Merge to choose another (far more honest) skin. I've been pushing for months now for Merge players to leave Lock and go to other skins. Now they will have to.

The bad comes in two forms:

1) Lock will be controlling a whole network. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

Lock was on the Cake network before going to Merge, btw.

I believe something like this was inevitable, since Lock and Merge have had a bad relationship for the past year, hitting its worst point when Merge canceled the LockOps series.

If you are a Lock player, I would get your $ off NOW (if possible) because I think the whole thing will crash down if they can't get enough traffic on the new network.

I figured you would find some way to turn this into bad news since you frequently go out of your way to hate on lock. This is good news for people who play on Lock and bad news for people who play on other Merge skins. Lock represents 40% of the Merge traffic and has done so for the last six months.

So you tell everyone "get your money off lock NOW if possible"(LOL) because you think "the whole thing will crash if they cant get enough traffic on the new network". After saying that shouldn't you also tell all of the players on the other Merge skins to do the same thing being that they're about to lose 40% of their traffic?

I understand that your website is all about going after "shady" poker sites and Lock is definitely an easy target and doesn't have the best reputation. However, I find it funny that you NEVER EVER mention any of the benefits of playing on Lock such as getting up to three checks per week and receiving them within 15 days compared to 1 to 3 months.

I understand that there are some fucked up situations in the past with Lock but people living in the US don't have many options at this time. The checks keep coming so there is no reason to not play on Lock Poker imo.

[BuSTMeANuT]

Oh and you also conveniently left out how the article mentioned increased rakeback %'s and a better VIP program.

[threeup3down]

I consider this bad since Cake isn't being absorbed. At first I thought it was cool that we might get paid on Cake then if Lock took over but now it's just going to divide the traffic further when there's not shit for traffic on any of the US sites anyways.

[nunbeater]

Lock acquiring Cake is perfect since they are both shady as fuck. Lock with the Girah/Casino Bonuses/signing shady pros and Cake with their ganking 60k from a player/bad cashout policies/other assorted shit.

[Steve-O]

Guys, the source is Gambling911.com; let this play out a bit more!

Also you guys are stating opinions and speculation as facts: For instance:

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

[BuSTMeANuT]

Guys, the source is Gambling911.com; let this play out a bit more!

Also you guys are stating opinions and speculation as facts: For instance:

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

I think its safe to say its the largest

[Steve-O]

This is good and bad.

It's good in that it will force all people who still want to play on Merge to choose another (far more honest) skin. I've been pushing for months now for Merge players to leave Lock and go to other skins. Now they will have to.

The bad comes in two forms:

1) Lock will be controlling a whole network. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

Lock was on the Cake network before going to Merge, btw.

I believe something like this was inevitable, since Lock and Merge have had a bad relationship for the past year, hitting its worst point when Merge canceled the LockOps series.

If you are a Lock player, I would get your $ off NOW (if possible) because I think the whole thing will crash down if they can't get enough traffic on the new network.

I figured you would find some way to turn this into bad news since you frequently go out of your way to hate on lock. This is good news for people who play on Lock and bad news for people who play on other Merge skins. Lock represents 40% of the Merge traffic and has done so for the last six months.

So you tell everyone "get your money off lock NOW if possible"(LOL) because you think "the whole thing will crash if they cant get enough traffic on the new network". After saying that shouldn't you also tell all of the players on the other Merge skins to do the same thing being that they're about to lose 40% of their traffic?

I understand that your website is all about going after "shady" poker sites and Lock is definitely an easy target and doesn't have the best reputation. However, I find it funny that you NEVER EVER mention any of the benefits of playing on Lock such as getting up to three checks per week and receiving them within 15 days compared to 1 to 3 months.

I understand that there are some fucked up situations in the past with Lock but people living in the US don't have many options at this time. The checks keep coming so there is no reason to not play on Lock Poker imo.

Good thing Druff isn't reactionary! LOL!

I have no official comment on this story at this point, other than to call into question its accuracy

[BeerAndPoker]

My random thoughts (some are the same as others):

- The old expression two wrongs never make a right comes to my mind here. The Cake Network is extremely flawed and Lock Poker has been in their share of shady/scandalous activity.

- Merge will definitely lose some traffic but their will be some players that want to stay on their network and maybe even play on both Merge and new Cake.

- Lock is spending a whole lot of money on marketing and hiring pros. This should scare people a bit not that they are shelling out the kind of money Full Tilt Poker did for their Main Pros, Red Pros, and Friends of FTP but they are bringing in a small fraction of what FTP was too. If Lock intends to pay out even more in rakeback to people then that hurts their bottom line as well so if they go on a spending frenzy they could go broke easily and be forced to just take the money and run.

- With all of Lock's flaws they have shown to have a more creative vision wanting more say in what they can do so this is no surprise they would like to part ways with Merge. Some of their ideas are copied (LockOps) but they are more willing to listen and implement stuff recommended to them it's just whether they execute it right or not we'll have to see.

- Cake processing sucks and Lock is far from perfect but it's definitely better for new players who are currently on Cake network.

- For skins on Cake if they don't like Lock owners then they might want out possibly switching over to Merge even though some might not like them as well.

- Lock is the only room hiring pros from the US so their stance of continuing to serve Americans should be answered by that.


Overall, I'm not one who will scream "Take your money off Lock now" but like any of the rooms still accepting Americans you shouldn't keep an amount on the site you would hate to lose if they closed up tomorrow. For some this could be $50 or for others it could be $25-50k so accept the risks that while the money is their it could be gone at the blink of an eye.

As for the transition over hopefully Lock don't screw up player balances,etc... I'd imagine they can get this right but if you fear their support can't then maybe you should cashout if you play on there before they move but that could lead to money getting lost in limbo so neither method will guarantee you get your money faster.

[Dan Druff]

I have other comments on this, but I'd like to know where Bustmeanut gets his information.

How do you know that Lock accounts for 40% of Merge's traffic?

I am pretty sure that Carbon is bigger than Lock, and there's no way the other skins combined only account for 20%.

[chinamaniac]

This is good and bad.

It's good in that it will force all people who still want to play on Merge to choose another (far more honest) skin. I've been pushing for months now for Merge players to leave Lock and go to other skins. Now they will have to.

The bad comes in two forms:

1) Lock will be controlling a whole network. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Merge activity levels will take a hit, since Lock was either the 2nd or 3rd largest skin on the network.

Lock was on the Cake network before going to Merge, btw.

I believe something like this was inevitable, since Lock and Merge have had a bad relationship for the past year, hitting its worst point when Merge canceled the LockOps series.

If you are a Lock player, I would get your $ off NOW (if possible) because I think the whole thing will crash down if they can't get enough traffic on the new network.

I figured you would find some way to turn this into bad news since you frequently go out of your way to hate on lock. This is good news for people who play on Lock and bad news for people who play on other Merge skins. Lock represents 40% of the Merge traffic and has done so for the last six months.

So you tell everyone "get your money off lock NOW if possible"(LOL) because you think "the whole thing will crash if they cant get enough traffic on the new network". After saying that shouldn't you also tell all of the players on the other Merge skins to do the same thing being that they're about to lose 40% of their traffic?

I understand that your website is all about going after "shady" poker sites and Lock is definitely an easy target and doesn't have the best reputation. However, I find it funny that you NEVER EVER mention any of the benefits of playing on Lock such as getting up to three checks per week and receiving them within 15 days compared to 1 to 3 months.

I understand that there are some fucked up situations in the past with Lock but people living in the US don't have many options at this time. The checks keep coming so there is no reason to not play on Lock Poker imo.

Most Lock players will create new merge accs so Id be willing to bet lock wont be as missed as u think.

As far as the lock cashout situation my buddy told me all of his cashouts have been delayed and in some cases checks are bouncing.

Add in the outrageous fees for WU and wires and they are raping their players.

You can cash out on 2+2 through third parties with less fees for wires and WU

[Steve-O]

I have other comments on this, but I'd like to know where Bustmeanut gets his information.

How do you know that Lock accounts for 40% of Merge's traffic?

I am pretty sure that Carbon is bigger than Lock, and there's no way the other skins combined only account for 20%.

I don't know the precise percentage but Lock has overtaken Carbon in the past 6-months (the two rooms have pretty similiar #'s so they may flip-flop from month to month) and are #1 and #2 by a mile. And I wouldn't be surprised if all of the other skins accounted for only 20-25%, but like I said I don't know the specific percentages...

The fact that you are asking for his information when you blindly throw out lines like they "are the #2 or #3 site" is kind of a double standard no?

***EDIT: I love the idle specualtion about how traffic won't take a hit at merge for this reason or that, the fact is nobody really knows what would hapen if this rumor is correct. It could be the death of Lock or it could be the death of the Merge Networ, or both might simply live on basically unaffected.

[chinamaniac]

Oh and you also conveniently left out how the article mentioned increased rakeback %'s and a better VIP program.

They werent even supposed to be offering rakeback on Merge and their new "pro" Tim West tweeted "hit me for rb accs" and he deleted quickly because this is against merge rules

Wow what a deal, charge people up to 1k for cashouts in a month and give them more rb, great company

[BuSTMeANuT]

I have other comments on this, but I'd like to know where Bustmeanut gets his information.

How do you know that Lock accounts for 40% of Merge's traffic?

I am pretty sure that Carbon is bigger than Lock, and there's no way the other skins combined only account for 20%.

It was in a statement given to Pocketfives.com dispelling a rumor that Cake was buying Lock.


"Cake is definitely not buying Lock. We currently represent 40% of the traffic on Merge and we are the largest room on Merge and have been for the past 5 months."

[BuSTMeANuT]

Oh and you also conveniently left out how the article mentioned increased rakeback %'s and a better VIP program.

They werent even supposed to be offering rakeback on Merge and their new "pro" Tim West tweeted "hit me for rb accs" and he deleted quickly because this is against merge rules

Wow what a deal, charge people up to 1k for cashouts in a month and give them more rb, great company

Im pretty sure when Lock leaves Merge they don't have to follow Merge rules anymore.

Who are these "people" that have been charged 1k per month for cashouts?

It's well known that when news breaks about a site that Druff doesn't like he will tend to leave out any positive information that would make the site look even a little better.