Just days after we asked why GGPoker still doesn’t offer mixed games despite years of player demand, another major online poker network has moved in the opposite direction.
Playtech’s iPoker network has officially launched mixed games, becoming only the second major international online poker network after PokerStars to offer the format.
The rollout begins with two mixed rotations: 8-Game and HORSE, both introduced as MTTs across the international iPoker network last Sunday.
Players can buy into the events for €5 and €10, with the 8-Game tournament featuring a Mystery Bounty format. Both 8-Game and HORSE tournaments return this Sunday, July 15.
The launch means players across iPoker skins, including Bet365, Sky Poker, Paddy Power, Betfair, Betsson, and several others, now have access to formats that combine several poker variants into a single tournament rather than sticking exclusively to No-Limit Hold’em or Pot-Limit Omaha.
While PokerStars has long catered to players looking for draw, stud and rotation games, options elsewhere have remained scarce.
“iPoker is pleased to launch Mixed Games for the international market,” Michael Bedulskis told pokerfuse’s big brother site Poker Industry PRO. “This significantly expands our poker variant portfolio.”
The move has been in the works for some time. Last year, shortly after iPoker rolled out its upgraded software platform, Bedulskis told PRO that mixed games were firmly on the roadmap and said the network had “big plans” beyond Hold’em and Omaha. Around the same time, iPoker also introduced 2-7 Triple Draw (though it was not available publicly) and later announced during The Festival live series that additional formats would follow.
Those plans have now become reality, although the rollout is starting cautiously.
According to Bedulskis, the network is currently “testing the first Mixed Games events in a limited scope” while collecting feedback from operators and players before expanding the offering.
He said several iPoker skins had already “worked closely with their players, providing valuable feedback that helped shape the launch and confirmed the level of interest around these games.” Several operators are already preparing dedicated tournament schedules and promotions around the new formats.
“For us, such a level of operator and player engagement is one of the most encouraging signs behind the launch,” Bedulskis said.
Live Poker’s Love Affair With Mixed Games Continues
The online launch comes as mixed games continue to gain traction in the live arena.
Over the last few years, more tours have added non-Hold’em events to their schedules, giving players opportunities to compete in formats that reward a broader range of poker skills.
The Festival, a long-time iPoker partner, has made mixed games one of the defining features of its live stops. Robbie Strazynski’s Mixed Games Festival has also grown steadily in the United States, introducing players to games beyond Hold’em.
Even PokerStars has expanded the number of mixed events on the European Poker Tour following player demand, while this year’s WSOP saw many non-Hold’em tournaments attract larger fields than previous editions.
“Mixed Games have been going through a complete renaissance in live poker, hitting attendance records everywhere from The Festival stops to the Irish Open and WSOP. Poker players increasingly value variety and events that test a broader range of poker skills,” Bedulskis said.
iPoker expects that enthusiasm to carry over online. The network confirmed that these formats will feature in future promotions, including the return of The Festival Online this October and a dedicated Poker Episode centered entirely around mixed games.
Could They Eventually Reach North America?
The rollout currently covers iPoker’s international dot-com market, but the network isn’t ruling out expansion.
When asked by PRO whether the formats could eventually arrive on the Playtech-powered PokerStars on FanDuel in the regulated US and Ontario online poker markets, Bedulskis said it would ultimately depend on player demand.
If the community in those markets proves large enough and vocal enough, he suggested the network would look at bringing the games there as well.
Interestingly, PokerStars on FanDuel hinted at launch that mixed games could eventually be added, though that has yet to happen.
Players Still Have Very Few Options
For all the recent momentum, players looking for mixed games online still have relatively few places to play.
PokerStars remains the clear leader, offering one of the industry’s broadest selections of stud, draw and rotation games.
Years ago, Full Tilt Poker built a loyal following with an extensive lineup that even included a 25-game rotation before the site shut down. Offshore US-facing Merge Gaming also supported several non-Hold’em formats when the network existed.
Today, the list is considerably shorter.
Winamax continues to offer the variants in Southern Europe, while crypto poker rooms such as Seals with Clubs and Phenom Poker cater heavily to players looking beyond Hold’em. In the sweepstakes poker market, Clubs Poker is currently the only operator to spread them.
Other operators have shown interest without following through. US-facing offshore room ACR Poker discussed introducing mixed games back in 2022, although the project appears to have stalled. The site does, however, continue to offer stud games.
The biggest omission remains GGPoker. Despite being the world’s largest online poker room, it still doesn’t spread mixed rotations, draw games or stud variants. The operator has repeatedly acknowledged demand and continues to state in its FAQ that the formats are planned, but no timetable has ever been announced.
For players who enjoy rotating between multiple poker disciplines, iPoker’s launch finally provides another mainstream option. It’s a small rollout for now, but one that reflects a shift as non-Hold’em poker continues to gain ground both live and online.
