Lock Poker joins bullish Merge Network

LOCK Poker has joined the Merge Poker network, the second site to join the ambitious network in three weeks.

Lock follows Pokerhost, which joined Merge’s US-facing poker network earlier this month. A new Lock Poker site will be launched in April..

Merge Gaming will see a six-fold boost in liquidity in six months and will be one of the world’s top 10 poker sites by early 2011, chief executive Anthony Taylor pledged last month after Sportsbook.com-owner Jazette Enterprises moved its Sportsbook.com, PlayersOnly.com and Superbook.com brands to the Merge network from the Cake network.

Referring to the Lock Poker deal, Taylor said: “This deal will bring even more liquidity to the network and aid our continued growth.”

Lock Poker launched in 2007, and recently released a casino product.

The site claims to be the first company to develop a Mac download casino, and employs poker professional Eric ‘Rizen’ Lynch as its vice president of product development.

Lynch said: “I will be working closely with Merge to further innovate Lock’s product. We will also now be able to offer great rewards to the North American market. Our philosophy is built on investing in the true poker player, and appreciating and rewarding their passion and dedication. We now have the tools to achieve that.”

In other poker news this week, Betclic chief executive Nicolas Beraud became the new chief executive of Everest Poker-owners Mangas Gaming.

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