The latest news coming from the poker industry is about another merger news between the online poker operator Purple Lounge and Entraction Network.Purple Lounge has confirmed it is leaving the Microgaming network

to join Swedish-based network Entraction. The move takes place on January 16, 2012.

According to the latest poker news, Purple Lounge chose to change networks in order to provide an even better service to their registered users. The room currently is part of the Microgaming Network, but according to their officials, Purple Lounge will operate under the Entraction Network from 16 January. Players will need to re-register, but their bankrolls will remain intact. 

A statement on Purple Lounge’s site states: “As we all know, the online poker industry is an ever changing and fast-evolving one, and Purple Lounge is evolving too. Moving network becomes a crucial part of this process. Entraction is backed by one of the biggest gaming companies in the world (IGT), so you are in reliable network-hands, today and tomorrow.” 

The Entraction Network was founded in 2000; it has been the subsidiary of International Game Technology (IGT). Entraction is one of the leading networks in the poker industry; currently it is the 13th biggest in the world. When the Nevada-based IGT acquired the company, the plans got even bigger; they pumped much money into the development of Entraction. Their aim is to get even higher on the list of networks and compete with iPoker for example.
The Purple Lounge Casino will remain on the Microgaming network and players will be unable to access Entraction’s casino games under the new poker format. However, as part of the move to Entraction, Purple Lounge will no longer be able to service grey markets including Russia, Estonia and Canada, according to the latest poker news.

Purple players may see a slight reduction in traffic at the new home. Microgaming is 7th on PokerScout’s ranking of open dot.com poker rooms and networks, with 1600 average peak players last week. Entraction sits at 8th with 1100 peak players. This switch will bring a welcome boost to Entraction numbers and will narrow the gap between the two rivals.