Merge Gaming Exits New Jersey and Delaware

Sat, Feb 1, 2014

Merge Gaming, one of the few online poker sites still available to U.S. players, has exited New Jersey and Delaware after those states legalized their own internet gambling sites. Merge does not have a license to operate in those states. Players on Merge, however, received no advance warning and were simply shout out of their accounts for “security reasons.”

The legalization of online gaming in New Jersey and Delaware has meant that end of Merge Gaming in those states.

Players from those states trying to log-in to their accounts were informed that the accounts had been suspended for “security reasons” and “as per restrictions in your state.”

Since New Jersey and Delaware now have online laws that require any site operating in the state to attain gaming licenses, the move by Merge—which operates Carbon Poker, BetUSA, Sportsbook etc.—makes sense since the network is not licensed in either state.

In fact, Merge has already exited a number of states with similar restriction including Nevada which has also legalized online gambling. Most were exited after the U.S, Department of Justice shut down a number of internationally based sites in 2011.

Merge has operated in other states, however, arguing that unless online gaming is explicitly illegal in a state, they have the right to operate. The DOJ may not agree with that interpretation and the site has been operating at its own risk, but unlicensed sites are now clearly illegal in New Jersey and Delaware.

So Merge is out.