BetMGM has expanded its poker ambassador lineup by signing award-winning content creator and professional poker player Abby Merk as its newest representative.
Hailing from Illinois, Merk becomes only the second ambassador for the BetMGM Poker network, joining four-time WPT champion Darren Elias.
As part of this “exclusive partnership,” Merk will take part in select live poker tournaments and produce content across multiple social media platforms. Indeed, she has a large presence on social media with a combined following of over 100,000 across YouTube and Instagram.
Merk transitioned from a career in finance to pursue poker professionally, sharing her journey through engaging content. On YouTube, she regularly posts vlogs that blend poker with lifestyle content, often infused with humor. Her Instagram, where she has nearly 85,000 followers, is primarily poker-focused, and she also maintains an active presence on TikTok.
Known for her witty poker-related videos on X (formerly Twitter), Merk has carved out a niche in the poker content space. Her efforts were recognized last month when she won the Rising Star in Content Creation award at the 6th Global Poker Awards.
“Abby Merk’s winning personality and love of poker reflect the type of excitement we are building in the poker community,” said Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer at BetMGM in a press release. “She is a fantastic addition to our stable of ambassadors and we look for her to build on her strong connection with her audience with her authentic style of storytelling.”
Before her official signing, Merk has had a strong connection with BetMGM and its sister brand, Borgata, for over a year, frequently visiting their casinos and competing in their tournaments.
Before joining BetMGM, Merk worked as an instructor for Poker Power and contributed to media outlets like PokerNews and PokerOrg.
“Throughout my time in the poker industry, it has always been my dream to partner with a brand that aligns with my values of honor, integrity, and respect while demonstrating a true love of the game,” Merk stated. “I am so proud to announce that I have partnered with BetMGM as a poker ambassador for 2025! I look forward to growing the game and building an amazing future with them.”
BetMGM’s Rising Market Presence
Merk’s signing comes at a pivotal time for the BetMGM Poker network, which has been thriving since launching its shared liquidity network last November, connecting New Jersey and Michigan online poker players. The network consists of BetMGM, Borgata, and PartyPoker, all sharing a combined player pool. BetMGM itself operates in three US states—New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—while Borgata is available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and PartyPoker serves only New Jersey. BetMGM and PartyPoker also operate in Ontario, Canada.
Since the launch of shared liquidity, BetMGM’s trio of poker sites under the Borgata license has dominated the New Jersey online poker market in both revenue and cash game traffic.
The network averages over 200 concurrent cash game seats, making it the largest in the regulated US online poker market. In terms of revenue, while individual skins do not post record-breaking figures, the combined performance of all three BetMGM skins generated over $1 million in New Jersey in February, capturing a 44% market share. WSOP ranked second with $667k in revenue (28.4% market share), while PokerStars followed closely with $650k (27.7% market share).
In Pennsylvania, BetMGM is not the market leader but stands to gain significantly once it joins the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which is expected to happen by this spring.
The operator has long been rumored to be preparing an online poker launch in Nevada, a state that is part of MSIGA. If it enters the market, its Nevada player pool would be integrated into its shared liquidity network, creating a three-state network comparable to WSOP’s.
Beyond Nevada, the operator could also expand into West Virginia, where it already operates an online casino and sportsbook. Once Pennsylvania joins MSIGA, BetMGM could build a four- or even five-state online poker network, further solidifying its position as a dominant player in the US market.
Merk joins an extensive roster of BetMGM ambassadors, which primarily features celebrities and sports personalities. Notable names on the list include Jamie Foxx, Vanessa Hudgens, Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Garnett, Barry Sanders, Connor McDavid, Ariel Helwani, Tim Howard, Darren Elias, Jerry Ferrara, Brian Christopher, Kyle Busch, and Austin Dillon.
