In what could go down as one of the most important moments for regulated online poker in North America, PokerStars has confirmed that its long-anticipated integration with FanDuel will finally move forward.
The operator has launched a dedicated PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel Info Hub page and begun notifying players directly via email, formally confirming that PokerStars will operate under the FanDuel banner in the United States and Ontario.
A major part of the reveal is the long-awaited US online poker shared liquidity update: Pennsylvania players will finally join New Jersey and Michigan on a single network, bringing all three states together in one combined player pool, a move that has been pending since last year.
Alongside the merged pools, players will transition to a brand-new poker client branded PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel. The current PokerStars software will be retired in these markets once the changeover takes place. While no official date has been announced, the rollout is expected soon.
This follows months of speculation from us and Poker Industry PRO. In fact, just last week we uncovered clear signs that the company was preparing to combine PokerStars with FanDuel and bring online poker under its platform. Now, that move has been officially confirmed.
Indeed, in the past year or so, PokerStars’ presence across its US and Ontario online poker networks had felt restrained, with minimal promotional push and relatively muted marketing compared to rivals. That subdued phase appears to be ending.
With the backing of FanDuel, the company appears to be preparing for a far more aggressive stance in both the US and Ontario markets.
Three States, One Player Pool
“A new era is about to begin,” reads the landing page, and the changes outlined suggest that this is more than just a branding update. Most notably, all three states where PokerStars US currently operates, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan, will be merged into a single shared liquidity pool. That means Pennsylvania online poker players will finally join their counterparts in New Jersey and Michigan at the same virtual tables.
The impact will be immediate: it will lead to larger tournament guarantees, more consistent game availability, and around-the-clock action.
The integration extends beyond the US. In Ontario, where PokerStars Ontario has a ring-fenced player pool, the transition will also take place. Canada’s largest province will see its standalone market folded into the new FanDuel-powered platform. However, Ontario will remain segregated, just as it is today, with no shared liquidity with the US player pool or the global dot-com network.
No official launch date has been announced for the transition, but several timeline markers suggest the change is imminent.
According to the FAQ published on the Info Hub, PokerStars Rewards will be discontinued on March 13, with players receiving full cash compensation for any unopened reward chests. In addition, PokerStars Casino Progressive Jackpots are scheduled to be removed on April 1, another sign that the transition is approaching quickly.
“PokerStars is joining forces with FanDuel to bring together two of the biggest names in gaming under one powerful platform,” the website states. “This move merges player liquidity for bigger prize pools, larger guarantees, and more exciting competition in the United States.”
All-New Poker Client & Bigger Guarantees
One of the most significant outcomes of the merger is the migration to an entirely new poker client and mobile app. While detailed previews have yet to be released, it has been confirmed that the existing PokerStars platform will be retired in these markets once the transition is complete. Until then, operations will continue as normal — same tournaments, same schedules, and no immediate disruption to gameplay.
When the switchover occurs, players will be required to create new accounts within the FanDuel platform. The operator says new welcome offers will roll out alongside the launch — available both to players signing up with FanDuel for the first time and to existing PokerStars customers, once the transition takes place.
Based on the teaser video released on the PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel page, the interface shown features the recognizable PokerStars-style table design and lobby layout that players are accustomed to. The footage also confirms that the full lineup of games will remain available, including Spin & Go and Zoom, the operator’s fast-fold poker format.
The same teaser footage also points to features that were not previously available in the US market. Most notably, it appears to display a built-in HUD integrated into the tables, a significant addition for PokerStars players under FanDuel. At present, BetRivers remains the only regulated US operator offering an integrated HUD.
The promotional video further hints at the return of larger marquee events. On-screen graphics and branding references suggest that the iconic Sunday Million could finally make its US regulated market debut with a $1 million guarantee, while the COOP festival series is also teased as coming back with substantially increased prize pools.
A Game-Changer for Regulated US Online Poker
Strategically, the implications are far-reaching. FanDuel already commands a dominant position in US sports betting, with access across numerous regulated states and a vast, highly active customer base. Integrating PokerStars into that ecosystem creates immediate cross-sell opportunities, funneling sports bettors and casino players into poker. For the poker vertical, that influx of recreational traffic could dramatically reshape liquidity and prize pool dynamics.
While PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel will initially operate in the three existing US states, the long-term implications extend further. The partnership could pave the way for entry into additional regulated jurisdictions with online poker in West Virginia expected and a launch in Connecticut possible. Nevada remains off the table, given FanDuel’s withdrawal from that market, but elsewhere the potential for expansion is clear.
The competitive ripple effect will be substantial. Operators such as WSOP Online, BetMGM, and BetRivers Poker will now face a reinvigorated rival backed by one of the most powerful brands in US gaming. With what is likely to be deeper marketing budgets, stronger cross-vertical integration, and expanded liquidity, the competitive bar looks set to rise.
Both Pokerfuse and Poker Industry PRO, our authoritative business analytics platform for the online poker industry, had been tracking and speculating on this integration for months. Now, after a long stretch of anticipation, the deal is no longer rumor or projection. It is finally happening.
