The Everleaf Gaming Network and Universal Poker Network (UPN) have combined forces to form a larger network that will attempt to attract more players. The new network, yet to be named, was officially formed on January 19th and will also be adding Victory Poker to the system on February 1st, according to Victory Poker officials.
The new network is expected to attract cash game traffic similar to Betfair, which averages around 600 real money ring game players at any given time. PokerScout.com, which keeps tabs on online poker room traffic, started tracking UPN in October. It began with 60 to 70 cash game players and, just before the merger with Everleaf, the number grew to around 300. PokerScout reported that Everleaf had around 100 cash game players in October, but that number dipped to 70 to 80 before the networks combined.
Prior to the merger, UPN was a Europe-only network with the Euro as its currency. Everleaf Gaming allowed U.S. players and had the U.S. dollar as its currency. The new combined network will accept players from the U.S. and promises a multi-currency system as well as a new cashier with more deposit methods. Players can have their bankroll in Euros or U.S. Dollars and they can request a one-time change in base currency by e-mailing support with their user name.
The networks did not provide players with an e-mail about the merger, which created some confusion among customers who were unaware. “No emails were sent out regarding this as the date for the merge could have and was delayed,” said a spokesperson for Everleaf. “We did have a pop up notice on our poker room for the last seven days to ensure everyone was made aware of this merger.”
The unification will bring together more than two dozen rooms in the new network. UPN had eight rooms going into the merger: PokerDruum.com, 5Poker5.com, MyNamePoker.com, ABDigitalPoker.com, PokerKingBet.com, BrasilianPoker.com, FullKingsPoker.com, WarriorsPoker.com, WinPKR.com, and ThePokerPanther.com.
Everleaf Rooms had 21 rooms, including Poker4Ever, Raider Poker, and Minted Poker. According to a release from Minted Poker on January 21st, the new network has developed improvements to its software to ensure a better playing experience. The enhancements include table filters, an auto re-load option at cash tables, new avatar uploads, and a $1,000 freeroll to celebrate the new merger, which will take place on Saturday, January 23rd. The entry is 50 Player Points.
“We work hard at Mintedpoker to improve your playing experience,” read a statement from the online poker site. “With these additional features Mintedpoker really is one of the best sites to play poker on the internet.”
The new network is currently working out some minor software kinks, but is online and running games as scheduled.