One of the biggest mergers in the regulated US and Ontario online poker markets is about to take place.
The long-rumored integration between PokerStars and FanDuel, the major US sportsbook operator, is finally happening. When the transition is complete, poker, casino, and sportsbook products will all be available using a single wallet.
The move will also finally lead to the long-awaited merger of PokerStars Pennsylvania with the operator’s existing PokerStars US network comprised of New Jersey and Michigan player pools, allowing players from all three states to compete together at the same tables.
More importantly, PokerStars’ legacy software will be retired in the US and Ontario. Players will instead be moved to a new poker client, branded PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel. No official date has been announced for the transition, but the operator is expected to reveal launch details sometime in the coming weeks.
As the expected launch approaches, more information has begun to surface about what players can expect.
It has now been confirmed that players will need to create a new account once the new platform goes live, including choosing a new username. Players who already have a FanDuel account for sportsbook or casino products will not be able to use the same username for the poker client.
However, existing FanDuel customers will still be eligible to claim the new poker welcome offer when the platform launches.
The current PokerStars Rewards program will end today. Until the new platform launches, there will be no rewards program in place. Existing reward tiers will not carry over to the new client, as everything will reset when players move to the new platform. Player notes, settings, and other account preferences will also not transfer over.
Players will still be able to access their existing PokerStars accounts until April 30. During that period, they can continue to review balances, transaction histories, and account records. After that date, account access will be removed and withdrawals will no longer be possible. If a player still has funds remaining and has not withdrawn them, PokerStars will send a check to the registered address.
It has also been confirmed that players who are self-excluded from FanDuel or restricted from its casino platform will not be able to access the new poker client.
What Else Do We Know?
Perhaps the biggest change for players will be the new poker software. The long-running PokerStars client used in the US and for PokerStars Ontario will no longer be available, with players transitioning to a completely new platform.
While detailed information about the software remains limited, preview videos available on the PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel hub page offer a first look at the interface.
The gameplay tables appear broadly similar to the familiar PokerStars design, though several new features are visible. One of the most noticeable additions is a built-in HUD integrated directly into the client. Players will have the option to disable the built-in HUD if they prefer and can still use third-party tracking HUDs.
The iconic Sunday Million tournament is also set to debut in the regulated US market. The weekly event has been running in the PokerStars’ dot-com market for years and is the longest-running tournament in online poker, traditionally offering a $1 million guaranteed prize pool every Sunday. Under the new platform, the tournament will finally debut for US online poker players with the same $1 million guarantee. More details are expected once the platform goes live.
PokerStars’ fast-fold poker product, Zoom Poker, is also expected to become available. Although the current US software technically supports Zoom, the format has never been offered because it requires sufficient player liquidity to function properly.
With the new shared network combining players from Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey, the larger player pool should provide the liquidity needed to support the game. Preview footage from the new client appears to show Zoom tables, suggesting the feature may finally launch.
Mixed games will also be part of the new platform. A PokerStars representative confirmed on the US Poker Discord that mixed formats will be supported, though the specific variants have not yet been disclosed.
The operator has also confirmed that a launch tournament series and several major promotional events will accompany the platform rollout. Full details are expected to be announced shortly before the launch.
To encourage players to sign up early, PokerStars and FanDuel have introduced a promotion called “One Sign Up: Double the Bonus.” Presented as a limited-time “Now and Later” offer, players who create a FanDuel Casino account before the poker launch will receive 500 Bonus Spins and up to $1,000 back in casino bonuses. Once the poker client launches, those same players will receive a separate poker welcome package.
Current timelines also suggest that the transition will happen first for US players before reaching Ontario.
PokerStars US Rewards will close today, while Casino Progressive Jackpots will be removed on April 1. In Ontario, the Rewards end date has not yet been announced, though Progressive Jackpots are scheduled to be withdrawn on May 5.
The staggered timeline strongly suggests that the US transition will take place first, with Ontario following shortly afterward.
Meanwhile, PokerStars is launching the Bounty Builder Series for Ontario players today. The 11-day festival features 47 tournaments and a combined C$750,000 in guaranteed prize pools.
