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Is it possible that PokerListings.com purchase/strategic partnership with the Cake Poker Network could wind up being trumped as THE huge industry news just days later? This appears to be the case if the rumors circulating about Victory Poker leaving the Cake Poker Network to join the Cereus Network turn out to be true!

The rumor began on Friday when raketherake.com issued a Press Release that stated: “In a deal that is 99% complete and yet to be announced publicly, we can exclusively reveal that Victory Poker is due to leave the Cake Network to join The Cereus Poker Network imminently,”

Considering RaketheRake.com is one of the largest poker affiliates in the industry, and the site is not known for breaking industry news or posting rumors, it would appear that this is likely a done deal. In an attempt to corroborate the story, PokerNewsBoy contacted Victory Poker CEO Dan Fleyshman who said, “I would be excited to join a network that hosts the third largest site in the U.S. and has very few partners to focus on. It would be great for everyone involved.” Perhaps more telling was the unquoted portion where PokerNewsBoy reports Fleyshman “revealed that a signed agreement is not yet in”.

The move would be a boon for both Cereus (currently UB Poker and Absolute Poker) and Victory Poker, the latter having moved from the Everleaf Network, to the Cake Poker Network late in 2010 only to see Cake continue its downward spiral from a top 10 poker network to the #26 spot, most notably losing a major skin in Doyles Room.