The much-awaited PokerStars merger with FanDuel has finally gone live and it’s a big shake-up for the regulated US online poker market as two of the biggest brands in iGaming come together on a single platform offering all three verticals.
For PokerStars US, the move finally brings Pennsylvania players into the same player pool as New Jersey and Michigan, meaning all three states are now connected. At the same time, PokerStars has rolled out a brand-new poker client, calling it “PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel”, with the legacy software now officially retired.
With the new platform, there is no carryover of player accounts or balances. Everything starts fresh, which means every player needs to create a new account.
And that’s where things get interesting.
This reset actually works in the players’ favor. The new platform, FanDuel Poker, is offering welcome bonuses to everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve previously had a FanDuel account or played on PokerStars US before; every player is treated as new and eligible for the full set of welcome offers. Even if you’ve already claimed bonuses in the past, you can still take advantage of these. And they’re worth paying attention to.
That’s exactly why this is the right time to sign up; some of these offers won’t be around forever and are expected to be removed once the initial launch period passes.
- Special Launch Welcome Offer: $1000 deposit bonus for all!
- Play the Sunday Million and $150k freeroll series
- All new software and three-state online poker network
Generous $1,000 Deposit Bonus Offer
To start with, all players can take advantage of a 100% deposit match of up to $1,000 on FanDuel Poker. While similar offers exist elsewhere, the clearance terms here are more favorable, with players given four months to unlock the full bonus.
Here’s how to claim it:
- Register for an account (all players must create a new poker account)
- Log in and opt in to the promotion from the offers page
- Make a deposit between $10 and $1,000
- Receive a 100% match up to $1,000
The bonus clears at a 20% rate ($5 for every $25 in rake paid), and players have 120 days to release the full amount. It’s worth noting that, unlike previous PokerStars US offers that allowed multiple deposits, this one applies only to your very first real-money deposit.
Claim Your Screen Name Before It’s Gone
With PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel now live and all players required to create new accounts, screen names are effectively reset across the entire player pool.
This creates a rare window where desirable usernames — including short names, brandable handles, and previously taken screen names — are available again. As more players sign up, those names will quickly be claimed.
If you have a preferred screen name, now is the time to secure it. Once it’s taken, it’s gone for good.
Free Tournament Tickets Worth $30
Alongside the deposit bonus, players are also being given tournament tickets to get started — and this part doesn’t require a deposit.
By simply logging into the new platform and opting in through the promotions page, players can claim:
- 2 × $5 Spin & Go tickets
- 1 × $20 satellite ticket for the Sunday Million
The Spin & Go tickets must be used within seven days of claiming them, while the satellite ticket remains valid until April 12, the day of the tournament.
Early Overlays, No Sweat Freeroll Series, More Value
The biggest reason not to wait, though, comes down to timing.
The platform has just launched, and in the early days of any new poker site, tournament guarantees often outpace the number of players. That typically leads to overlays, where the operator has to cover the shortfall, creating extra value for players.
And there are already signs of that happening here.
Take the $100 Nightly Stars, which comes with a $50,000 guarantee. That’s a big number for a weekday tournament and would require more than 500 entries to meet the guarantee, not an easy target in the opening days.
It’s not just that one tournament. Other tournaments on the schedule are also set with ambitious guarantees. The $5 Daily Duel offers a $3,500 guarantee and is another strong candidate to fall short.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the schedule includes some of the biggest events so far. The newly introduced Sunday Dynasty features a $100 buy-in and $100,000 in guarantees, while the Sunday Shield offers a $20 buy-in with $20,000 guaranteed.
Given how early the platform is in its lifecycle, there’s a strong chance many of these tournaments will miss their targets, creating added value for those who get in early. The same applies to qualifiers and satellites for the Sunday Million, which are also likely to offer value during this initial phase.
Lastly, to mark the launch, the operator has rolled out a No Sweat Tournament Series. It features $150,000 in prizes and isn’t a typical series; it’s a freeroll, open to all players with an active account. There are no buy-ins, though entry is through tickets, with full details yet to be confirmed. The series begins on April 6, so there’s still a short window to get in early.
