PokerStars has confirmed that it will not be running its flagship Championship of Online Poker (COOP) series in the US online poker market this fall. Instead, the operator says the festival will return in 2026 “bigger and better.”

The announcement marks a clear break from tradition.

Normally, in North America, the operator unveils its COOP series for the US and Ontario at the same time, with both festivals running in tandem. That has been the tradition for many years, twice annually, one in the spring and one in the fall.

This year is different. Only Ontario players will get their COOP festival, while US players will be left waiting. It will be the first time since PokerStars entered the regulated US market in 2016 that the fall COOP will not run.

“We know many players have been looking forward to this year’s PokerStars (North American) Championship of Online Poker (COOP),” a PokerStars spokesperson told pokerfuse. “COOP has become one of our most popular annual events, and we love seeing the passion and competition it brings to our community. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to host COOP this year.”

The operator explained that “recent changes in the online gaming landscape mean that our platform requires some upgrades before we can deliver the fair, competitive, and exciting COOP experience that our players deserve.”

While stressing that this is a “pause, not a stop,” PokerStars assured players that preparations are already underway to bring COOP back next year “bigger and better,” with the goal of “more players, more competition, and more excitement than ever before.”

The spokesperson further went on to say that they will continue to offer their regular games and promotions across Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey.

A Curious Pause

This marks the second setback for PokerStars US players this year. Back in April, when Pennsylvania formally joined the multi-state online poker compact, the expectation was that PokerStars would move quickly to merge its PA online poker operation with the existing Michigan–New Jersey network. WSOP and BetMGM wasted no time in making the switch. Even BetRivers Poker eventually followed.

But PokerStars? They held back.

That, coupled with the absence of the fall COOP, is unusual. If the problem was purely operational — whether scheduling, staffing, or liquidity-related — PokerStars could have opted for a smaller edition of COOP in the US. Instead, the operator has decided to pause the series altogether.

So why would PokerStars pull the plug on its most prestigious US festival and promise a bigger relaunch in 2026?

Platform Upgrades

The operator cites “platform upgrades” as the reason for skipping COOP this year. That could point to two things and in reality, it’s likely a mix of both.

The first explanation is straightforward: PokerStars may be holding off until Pennsylvania players can be merged with those in Michigan and New Jersey. A unified three-state network would mean bigger prize pools and a far more competitive series, fitting the “fair, competitive, and exciting” experience PokerStars referenced in its statement.

We’ve seen other operators take the same approach. WSOP Online delayed unveiling its bracelet schedule earlier this summer until the Pennsylvania merger was live. BetMGM Poker did the same last year, waiting for its NJ–MI network to be connected before launching its Online Championships.

PokerStars appears to be doing something similar, but what exactly those “platform upgrades” involve, and why they are taking so long, is less clear. That brings us to the other possibility.

A Possible FanDuel Connection

The second theory, one we’ve speculated on often, is that PokerStars’ US operations are being lined up for integration with its sister brand FanDuel. This wouldn’t come out of nowhere.

Parent company Flutter has hinted at this move before, and combining the two could streamline licensing and unlock access to additional states like West Virginia and Nevada, both part of the US multi-state online poker compact and where FanDuel has a license. Suddenly, the player pool could expand significantly. That, in turn, could justify the promise of a bigger, better series in 2026.

If so, the “upgrades” might not only be about merging Pennsylvania, but also preparing PokerStars’ platform for a deeper FanDuel tie-in.

FanDuel already dominates the US sports betting market, while PokerStars has struggled to gain comparable traction in poker and casino. Folding PokerStars into FanDuel could streamline licensing, marketing, and customer acquisition in one swoop.

Not a Goodbye

PokerStars has made it clear that this is a “pause, not a stop.” The promise of a return “bigger and better than ever” in 2026 suggests a relaunch rather than a wind-down. It points to something in the works — something that requires patience before being unveiled.

For now, PokerStars US players will have to live without a fall COOP for the first time. It’s a disappointment, especially for those who view the series as a fall tradition. But the bigger story may be what’s happening behind the curtain. Whether it’s FanDuel integration or another strategic shift, PokerStars is clearly holding its cards close to the chest and setting the stage for a much larger move.

What we do know is that COOP is confirmed for a 2026 return. If 2026 does bring the relaunch they’re promising, the wait might prove worthwhile.