PokerView, a Merge Gaming skin that allowed players to see each other via webcam while playing, has unexpectedly shut down effective April 1.
The closure is not an April Fool's joke, as a visit to PokerView.com reveals the following message:
Dear PokerView Customer,
We are writing to inform you that PokerView recently transferred to Merge Gaming Limited certain assets which form part of the PokerView brand. As a result, PokerView will cease to operate PokerView.com as of 6:00 p.m. (EST) on April 1, 2013.
We want to take this moment to assure you that your player funds are secure; and you will have access to your funds and the ability to play on the Merge Gaming Network. All player funds will continue to be managed by Merge Gaming in the usual course.
It has been our pleasure to serve the poker community and we wish you all the best moving forward. For further instructions related to your accounts and support, please login to the PokerView client.
Sincerely,
The PokerView Team
Those who do log in to the client are informed to choose a new skin among Carbon Poker, PlayersOnly or Sportsbook.com. Player balances will be promptly transferred to the chosen skin. Unfortunately, it appears that any uncleared bonuses and accumulated VIP points will not be transferred along with player account balances.
Merge skins have been closing their doors at a rapid pace of late, as Overbet and Iron Duke shut down last month. That followed the demise of Hero Poker and RPM Poker late last year. Black Chip Poker left Merge at roughly the same time as Hero and RPM, but is now accepting wagers at the Winning Poker Network.
Merge is currently ranked third among U.S.-friendly poker networks, trailing Bodog and the Revolution Network in cash game player traffic, according to recent PokerScout tabulations. Merge has long been criticized for excessive delays in payment processing.
PokerView was originally associated with the Everleaf Gaming Network and moved to Merge in the fall of 2011. The move came during a period when Merge had suspended new sign-ups from U.S. players but still allowed Americans with current accounts to log on. A number of U.S. players are believed to have joined PokerView prior to the migration to Merge in order to avoid the new player suspension on Merge.
