Poker Networks

There are a number of different poker networks out there. There are also many reasons to play on poker networks. A poker network usually offers more players than a single site, although there are some very big sites out there that are so strong that they stand on their own even without a network. If you play on a poker site that is a member of a network, you should be aware of which network it is a member of, as you will usually only be eligible to receive bonuses and promotions from one member site.

Why Poker Sites Join a Network

Opening an online poker room can be a lucrative business, so many businessmen want to start one. However, an online poker room cannot operate without a minimum critical mass of players. For an operator to start an online poker room that is on a poker network, therefore, is the ideal situation. They can offer their players promotions that are different from those offered on the network. They may offer different customer service, different promotions, different tournaments, different loyalty points systems, a different language, or even just a different color scheme from what is already out there, but their players come into a poker room that already has enough players to begin playing real games for real money immediately.

Top Poker Networks

	The Cake Network was one of the bigger poker networks. Cake Network skins include big names like Cake Poker, as well as lesser known rooms like Stryyke Poker, Poker550, Lii Poker, Poker Host, and Power Poker. All told, there are around 25 rooms on the Cake Poker Network, each very similar. DoylesRoom, Sportsbook.com Poker, Players Only and Victory Poker have all left Cake in the last year. Pokerlistings has recently purchased the Cake network in March 2011.
	The Merge Network is another growing network. The Merge Network includes such sites as Players Only, Sportsbook Poker, Aced, Reefer Poker, Carbon Poker, and Poker Nordica. They are open to US players and are licensed in Kahnawake.
	The iPoker Network runs on Playtech software which features a variety of bad beat jackpots, cash tables and online tournaments and includes Titan Poker, Bet365Poker, Noble Poker, Chili Poker, Sun Poker, and Paddy Power Poker, among others.
	The Everleaf Network is a much smaller poker network that saw a surge of players with the addition of Victory Poker. The problem is Victory moved from Everleaf to the Cake Network, and now traffic is back down. Other rooms on the network are Poker4Ever, Minted Poker, Raider Poker and a bunch of other rooms you never heard of. Everleaf really has over 90 tiny poker rooms on their network.

Why Choose One Room in a Network Over Another?

On some poker networks, all the rooms are essentially the same and it doesn't matter which one you choose, while on others, the different rooms really have different things to offer. You'll have to look at a few rooms to see what is true regarding your particular decision. For example, you'll have to look at the sign-up bonuses on two different sites in the same network. They may be identical or they may be radically different. The tournament schedule may be the same or one site may have some additional tournaments. If those tournaments appeal to you, then it's easy to choose which site you'd prefer to play at. Be sure to compare bonuses carefully, though. You may be able to register at more than one site on a network, but you won't be able to get a sign-up bonus from more than one site within a network. Even if you manage to get the bonus initially, you'll have it taken away, and you might end up with one or both of your accounts suspended for bonus abuse. Be sure to check with a customer service representative before you sign up for a second site on the same network so that you don't end up with your account suspended.

UPDATE - A new poker network? We are starting to hear some news about a new network called the Atlantis Poker Network with 3-D poker software. Will it take off?