Whale at Center of PIC Club Merge Poker Scandal

A high rolling "whale" is getting blamed for the messy divorce between online poker payment processor PIC Club and poker network Merge.

The player in question had joined several of the Merge online poker skins.

In an email obtained by Gambling911.com, Merge CEO Anthony Taylor admits that the player had lost overall through Merge, while disputing the fees charged by PIC Club for each time the individual pulled funds from individual Merge poker rooms.  PIC Club charges a standard 7 percent to merchants on all monies going in and 2 percent for players monies going out.

"If you really think its fair to charge what you are charging for the activity, then I have run out of words. In your heart do you think that you should earn when (player's name deleted) deposits and doesn't play or plays a few hands for two minutes then withdraws and you earn on that. The only reason I investigated this was the sudden bill when I know the guy has lost to us overall."

Merge also claims the player in question charged back.  The player, who is well known to most of the bigger bookmakers and online casino operators, admitted that his wife had charged back his credit card at both Merge and Doyles Room.  PIC Club claims it has since settled with Doyles Room in regard to the chargeback, though Gambling911.com was still waiting for independent confirmation from Doyles Room. 

Gambling911.com has also obtained emails whereby Merge agreed to allow the high roller in after he emailed to advise of his big money plays. 

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher