Why so many Merge Skins?

Carbon, Lock, Sportsbook, Bluffroom, others?

the software is good and i've been managing to have fun on Carbon

but why do they need so many skins for bascially the same online casino?

also Sportsbook doesnt allow US now, they did when I first signed up

is the multi-skins a marketing thing ... are they hoping people will be like ooo Carbon my fav element let me play there ... Lock nice my money will be safe there .... Bluffroom ... don't even think about 5 betting me when i play on bluffroom!!

or is this there way of guarding against potential US gov't actions

maybe that they figure some (like me) will sign up for all of them, even though i only play Carbon now b/c i have a few bucks there?

or something else ...???

I dont know why they have some many skins on one netwrok
But i know there are no only carbon/pdc/feltatars/lock/ only !!! Merfe has 65 diffrent skin which is kind of unbelievable

I think every poker skin have one owner and Merge only offers them the software. Like ipoker network, cake network and many others.

It's because writing Poker Software is a very different business to running a poker room
So people wishing to run a poker room use the software that is already there.

Plus as a new startup, you're immediately showing traffic to your members.
Tournaments, ring games, freerolls, its all ready to go.

Merge isn't the only network with a multitude of skins. This is pretty common in the poker industry. You must have some major capital to be able to put up a successful independent site these days. PokerStars and FullTilt were the exceptions to the rule.

Another benefit (well usually, but lately many consider it a disadvantage given their backlog issues) with Merge is that they escrow all player funds, so skins cannot bail and run off with your money. When you withdraw from a Merge skin through the poker cashier (not the sportsbook/casino operations, which are run by the skins themselves), Merge handles that withdrawal, not the skin. Other skins on other networks have scammed and ripped off players like this before, so with Merge at least you get a little bit more security in that area.

The entire Merge network (all skins) stopped accepting new US account on June 1st, not just Sportsbook. Rumor has it they will start accepting again any day now, though.

Definition of "skin"

An online poker room that is on a network with other poker rooms. The software is almost always the same as all the other rooms on the network, except for the color scheme and other minor graphical variations.
Benefits of Skins

For the poker networks: allows multiple companies to market the network and bring players to the tables, making the network more money.

For the poker rooms: all the software and infrastructure, as well as the existing network player base, is in place - the site can concentrate on marketing.

For the players: more opportunities for bonus whoring and rakeback at different skins on the same network.

Source: http://pokerterms.com/skin.html

So i can play on all the same merge networks skins usig the same username as my carbon? or do i need to get a new username?

Yes you can play on all merge network skins BUT you need to use a new username.

well if most of them have fun step games, thats a lot of free rolling i can do :P to bad transfering money from 1 skin to another is not possible. or is it ??? lol thats gana be fun trying out

I believe Skin to skin transfers are not allowed. I think i read it somewhere in the Official carbon support thread in 2p2.

that is correct

Skin to skin between carbon and pdc is possible only

whats pdc? ill get that skin too and then get 20 sng games a day for free, more games more free rolling