The merger between Bwin and PartyGaming is a significant first step in the consolidation of the online gambling market. How will the merger affect the poker divisions of these companies?

Pokerstrategy.com blogger xantos has written an interesting piece on the various possible strategies that Bwin and PartyGaming may adopt regarding online poker. Basically, there are three scenarios:

1. Ongame (owned by Bwin) and PartyPoker continue as they are
This is a simple short-term solution but not very effective in the long run, especially not in the French and Italian markets.

2. PartyPoker joins Ongame
Not likely, says xantos. Ongame's software is inferior, plus there are a number of small skins that don't really contribute to the network and PartyPoker would view these as a major problem.

3. PartyPoker create their own network
PartyPoker already has everything in place for a functioning network. Bwin and some selected skins from Ongame (like Betfair and Coral) could move over to PartyPoker creating a healhy network with lots of growth potential. Possible obstacle: Bwin has invested a lot in Ongame and may not want to go this way.

In the article, xantos also discusses other consequencies of the merger.