Why we recommend PokerStars x FanDuel: A three-state network & large player pool boosted by the partnership between two major iGaming brands.
If you are in Michigan, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you can play real money US online poker on PokerStars x FanDuel. Offering a generous welcome bonus, the best variety of game types and formats, and some of the largest tournament guarantees in the US, this newly-minted poker brand has a lot to offer.
Make your first deposit with FanDuel Poker & get a 100% match up to $1,000.
Get $30 worth of Spin & Go and satellite tickets when you create your free account.
PokerStars is one of the world’s largest and probably best-known online poker operators. It is one of the top global and US online poker rooms and, as of April 2026, it operates under a new name: PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel!
The newly-minted platform combines player pools from Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the three states that PokerStars US used to operate in. In addition to the new brand, PokerStars x FanDuel Poker also features a new desktop software and a mobile app.
In this detailed PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel review, we bring you all the information about the new platform, including an overview of the welcome bonus, details about upcoming tournaments, game types and variations, and much more.
Two of the most recognized iGaming platforms in the US have joined forces to bring a fresh and improved online poker experience to players in the US. Operating under a new brand, PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel, the fresh site combines player pools from three states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey), bringing better liquidity, more action, and bigger tournament prize pools.
| PokerStars x FanDuel: Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| β¨ Main Highlight | Big Tournament Guarantees |
| π States Available | New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania |
| π€π€ Shared Liquidity | Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania |
| π€ Freeplay Bonus | $30 in satellite and Spin & Go tickets |
| π° Deposit Match Bonus | 100% up to $1,000 |
| π PokerStars x FanDuel Tournaments | Sunday Million, No Sweat Series |
| π¦ Banking | PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, Bank Transfers/ACH, Trustly, Apple Pay, Venmo |
PokerStars went live in New Jersey in 2016, following a long battle to acquire the approval from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).
For a long time, it operated as an isolated platform, catering only to players in the Garden State. Finally, on January 1, 2023, it became the first site to take advantage of Michigan joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, combining the PokerStars NJ player pool with the Michigan platform.
In April 2026, that platform was combined with that in Pennsylvania but under the new brand – PokerStars Exclusively by FanDuel.
Although Michigan legalized online poker in 2019, it took some time for the first site to go live in the state. That happened in January 2021 when PokerStars MI went live as the first operator fully licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB).
Since Michigan wasnβt a member of the MSIGA at the time of launch, PokerStars MI continued to operate as an isolated platform, catering only to players physically present in the state. This changed in January 2023, when PokerStars MI merged its player pool with the New Jersey platform.
Then, in April 2026, with the launch of the new brand, PokerStars x FanDuel, former PokerStars players from Pennsylvania were added to the networks as well.
PokerStars Pennsylvania was the first online poker site to launch in the state and remains one of the most established platforms available to local players. However, for a long time, PokerStars PA remained outside of the shared network created by the operator’s site in New Jersey and Michigan.
This finally changed in April 2026 when the new site, PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel, went live. The new platform, created by through the partnership of two massive brands, launched with a three-state network, finally bringing Pennsylvania into the fold.
PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel offers an identical welcome bonus for new players across all its currently active sites (PA, MI, and NJ). The welcome package consists of a generous bonus match of up to $1,000 as well as $30 in tournament tickets available to all players,
It is worth noting that the poker welcome bonus is available to all players, including the ones who already have a FanDuel account and have previously claimed a casino or sportsbook bonus on the site.
All new players can get off to a good start on FanDuel Poker with a generous 100% match bonus of up to $1,000. Claiming the bonus is easy:
The bonus clears at 20% rakeback rate ($5 for every $25 in rake paid) and you’ll have 120 days to clear the entire bonus. Unlike previous PokerStars US bonuses, which allowed several deposits, this particular offer is valid only for your very first real money deposit.
In addition to the match bonus, PokerStars x FanDuel is giving all players some tournament tickets to get them started. There is no deposit required here. Simply log into the new FanDuel Poker platform, navigate to the promotions page, and claim the tickets:
You will have seven days to use your Spin & Go tickets after claiming them, while the satellite ticket will be available for use up to April 12, the day of the tournament.







PokerStars x FanDuel is a newly-launched site, so we’re yet to see what they have in store with regards to promotions. That said, with everything we’ve seen and heard in the buildup to the launch, players could be in for a treat.
In addition to the comprehensive welcome offer, FanDuel Poker will likely feature a variety of leaderboards, special bonuses to accompany their major tournament series, and other perks similar to those available on other US poker sites.
To kick things off, the operator is running a No Sweat tournament series. Offering $150,000 in prizes, this is a freeroll tournament series open to all players with an active account. There are no buy-ins and everyone is welcome to join the action and pick up their share of the prize pool.
The new platform features a new rewards program tailored specifically for poker players. Called Dynasty Builder, it brings a combination of fun and valuable rewards designed to keep players engaged, entertained, and rewarded for their efforts on the virtual felt.
The Dynasty Builder program revolves around missions. There are two types of these missions, namely:
There are 16 Grind Mission milestones you can clear every week, resulting in up to 25% weekly rakeback for the players who manage to get through all of them, as shown in the table below:
| Milestone | Required Rake | Reward | Cumulative Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $50 | $5 | $5 |
| 2 | $100 | $10 | $15 |
| 3 | $150 | $10 | $25 |
| 4 | $200 | $15 | $40 |
| 5 | $300 | $20 | $60 |
| 6 | $400 | $20 | $80 |
| 7 | $500 | $20 | $100 |
| 8 | $600 | $20 | $120 |
| 9 | $800 | $50 | $170 |
| 10 | $1,000 | $50 | $220 |
| 11 | $1,250 | $60 | $280 |
| 12 | $1,500 | $60 | $340 |
| 13 | $2,000 | $130 | $470 |
| 14 | $2,500 | $130 | $600 |
| 15 | $3,000 | $130 | $730 |
| 16 | $4,000 | $270 | $1,000 |
The new PokerStars x FanDuel platform has big plans for online tournaments, and they’ve made it known right from the get go.
The most exciting news for all tournament fans is the return of legendary Sunday Million. The operator is hosting two $500k guaranteed tournaments on April 12, with buy-ins of $109 and $1,100. Presumably, the new platform has plans to make these events a standard feature.
To celebrate the launch, the operator is also hosting the No Sweat series, running April 6 – 12, featuring $150,000 in combined guarantees.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though, as PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel has already hinted at a major tournament series set to kick off at the end of April. The series should be similar to SCOOP, offering hundreds of tournaments across many different buy-ins, and featuring many different game variations.
Most online poker players are familiar with the jackpot sit & go’s concept. These have been gaining popularity over the years, and today, they represent the most popular sit & go format in existence.
At PokerStars x FanDuel, this format is known as Spin & Go, and you will find these games offered on all three sites. A special Spin & Go lobby is available in the client, making it easy to register for the tournaments, and every game starts as soon as three players have registered.
The top prize is determined randomly at the start of each tournament. It can be as low as 2x the buy-in or as high as 10,000x the buy-in, the latter being the main reason why so many players are attracted to this format.
There are Spin & Go’s for every pocket. Buy-ins start at $1 and go up to $50, so it is up to you to decide what games you are the most comfortable with. It is worth noting that, every now and again, there will be special Spin & Go events, where the maximum prize will exceed even the 10,000x multiplier.
PokerStars US Spin & Go buy-ins & prizes
| Buy-In | Minimum Prize | Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| $1 | $2 | $10,000 |
| $5 | $10 | $50,000 |
| $20 | $40 | $100,000 |
| $50 | $100 | $250,000 |
While tournaments may be the bread and butter of PokerStars x FanDuel, cash game players will also find plenty of action. Most importantly, the operator is one of the leaders in terms of traffic in all three markets, which means there is never a lack of players, and there are always seats open. This will be especially true now that New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania rooms have combined their player pools, creating an even healthier and richer ecosystem.
The range of stakes is very generous as well. You can start playing as low as $0.01/$0.02 and move all the way up to $10/$20. Even higher games are running occasionally, but these are the stakes that get the most traffic.
For those who do not like waiting around for the next hand, FanDuel Poker also offers its popular Zoom Poker, where you are dealt a new hand as soon as you click the fold button. Stakes go up to NL/PLO200, but the player numbers in these games have traditionally been lacking. The situation may change with the launch of the new platform.
Cash game games & stakes at PokerStars US
| Game Type | Min Stakes | Max Stakes |
|---|---|---|
| No Limit Hold’em | $0.01/$0.02 | $25/$50 |
| Pot Limit Omaha | $0.01/$0.02 | $25/$50 |
| Mixed Games | $0.25/$0.50 | $100/$200 |
At the moment, PokerStars is available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. You can register for a PokerStars US account from anywhere in the country, but you will need to be physically present within a particular state to be able to play. The signup process itself is very easy:
With the launch of the new brand, players were introduced to a whole new platform as well. PokerStars software that has served many generations of players, both in the US and worldwide, was retired and replaced by a fresh platform powered by iPoker.
The first and perhaps the most important aspect of an online poker platform is its functionality. This encompasses the overall usability, stability, and support for different operating systems and devices.
The PokerStars X FanDuel software ticks this particular box quite well. First of all, players can choose between a downloadable client and a fully-functional web-based platform. Thus, you can access the full scope of games and all core features straight from your browser.
The interface has kept the familiar PokerStars overtones from a purely visual perspective, while navigating the client is as easy as ever. All games live in their respective lobbies (cash games, tournaments, Spin & Go, etc.), with additional filters available for fine-tuning purposes.
With any new piece of software, there is always a question of reliability hanging in the balance. The new FanDuel Poker platform is yet to prove itself, but, with two iGaming giants behind it and iPoker as the software supplier, we don’t expect any serious issues.
While some minor glitches or connectivity problems are to be expected during the first week or two, these shouldn’t really have a serious impact on the overall experience, and the operator will continue working in the background to tackle any technical issues as they appear.
On the visual side of things, PokerStars x FanDuel also has a lot to offer. The platform features many customization options, giving you a chance to make it your own with different table backgrounds, deck designs, and more.
For those requiring more, there are sound options and different animations that you can easily turn on and off. While these can make the software run slower if your computer is not powerful enough, they can add to the overall experience for recreational players.
Like all licensed sites in the US, PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel features a good selection of safe and reliable payment options. You can pick based on your preferences, and rest assured that whatever you choose, your money and your personal information will remain fully protected.
The operator takes things a step further, giving you access to a range of responsible gaming tools, allowing you to set deposit and loss limits, and giving you full control over your gaming habits.
As for the banking options available on the site, these are some of the most popular options you will find offered across all three sites.
| Payment Method | Deposits | Withdrawals |
|---|---|---|
| MasterCard | β | β |
| Visa | β | β |
| PayPal | β | β |
| Trustly | β | β |
| Venmo | β | β |
| Bank Transfers | β | β |
| Cash at Counter | β | β |
| Check | β | β |
PokerStars x FanDuel is currently fully licensed and regulated in three US states, with the goal to expand to other markets when the opportunities present themselves.
All state regulators require poker rooms to adhere to very strict rules and they closely monitor the operatorsβ activity. Furthermore, you can always lodge a complaint with a regulator if there is an issue that you cannot resolve with the room, which adds an extra layer of safety.
FanDuel Poker utilizes one of the most advanced Random Number Generators out there as well, based on a completely new and unique technology, guaranteeing that every hand you play is completely random and impossible to predict.
Yes, PokerStars x FanDuel is fully legal and regulated in the US, but only in a handful of states at this point. State regulators have issued relevant licenses for PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel, making it a completely safe, secure, and legal option for online poker in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Yes! FanDuel Poker (i.e. PokerStars x FanDuel) is generally considered to be one of the safest and most reputable online poker platforms in the US. It is licensed by several regulatory bodies, including the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE), and the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), which ensure that it adheres to strict standards for security and fair play.
No! PokerStars is one of the world’s most reputable and trusted online poker brands. It goes to great lengths to ensure the fairness of its games, including regular audits and use of a Random Number Generator (RNG).
Yes, a PokerStars app is available for each of the states in which it operates. They are available for players to download and use on their Android or iOS devices. To download the appropriate app for your state and OS, follow this link.
The new PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel site shares liquidity between three states, namely New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
No, you must be physically located within one of the states where the room is licensed to play for real money. Players do not have to be residents of these states as PokerStars / FanDuel Poker is open to all US residents, but when playing for real money, every player must be within the borders of the licensing state.
Just like you cannot play from other US states, you cannot play on any of the PokerStars US / FanDuel Poker sites from Europe. This is unlikely to change even if interstate compacts are allowed. It will probably take a while before US players can play against the rest of the world on PokerStars or any other US-licensed site.