PokerStars’ Winter Series for 2026 is halfway done, and this year, things are a bit more compact.

Anuj reports for pokerfuse that each regional series is offering 50 tournaments, down from last year’s 89, so the total prize money guaranteed just tips over $1.5 million.

Buy-ins now start as low as $7, with some new price points mixed in. The Main Events, still to come, will see $200 buy-ins with guarantees between $70K and $100K.

GGPoker’s new rewards program is going live tomorrow!

Just a reminder: GGPoker’s new rewards program, Ocean Rewards, replaces Fish Buffet tomorrow 🌊

Check out everything you need to know here ⬇️

Well… That’s One Way to Celebrate.

ClubWPT Gold going down for maintenance on day one of their anniversary celebration is… a choice 😂

Maybe this means something huge is coming 👀

I have been in the industry 10+ years and never heard this story.

Once-upon-a-time, back in 2008, Betfair Poker players stumbled onto a bug that would make even the calmest developer sweat. If everyone moved all-in on the first hand of a six-player sit and go, the winner got first place money, and everyone else received second place payouts.

Forums erupted with stories of players quickly climbing the stakes and raking in money.

Betfair’s offices were closed overnight, so the bug went unchecked until the following afternoon. After discovering the losses, the site quickly shut down the affected games and froze some accounts. The company eventually demanded repayment from players it accused of collusion, even threatening legal action.

BetRivers Poker just introduced three new promotions across its US markets, with two of them making their debut.

The highlight is the Double Glitch, Double the Comeback promo, which targets Cub3d SNG players. In this format, even if you finish second or third, you might get a Glitch prize.

That means if you collect $8.30 in Glitch prizes in a day, you get an additional $8.30 in SNG tickets. No opt-in is needed, and tickets are credited within 96 hours. The promotion runs through February 11 in all four states where BetRivers operates.

For more details, check out Anuj’s full article below.

We know we’ve covered it before, but we will say it again.

Daniel Negreanu has announced, via PokerNews, a new Kalshi partnership where one lucky predictor will snag a seat to the 2026 WSOP Main Event.

All it takes is a $10 deposit on Kalshi using his promo code. Once entered, you are eligible for what PokerNews calls 'free access to this summer’s showpiece occasion.’

Closer to the event, there will be plenty of online satellites and packages giving away Main Event entry for less, so if prediction markets are not your thing, don’t worry. There will be more ways to win your way to WSOP 2026 as the year gets underway.

Forget the bracelets, grab the cash.

WSOP Online is making it rain for cash game grinders, rolling out a week-long Cash Game Festival with more bonuses than a loyalty card at your favorite coffee shop. Rakeback hits 50 percent, reload bonuses cap at 500 dollars, and there is even a challenge to keep you glued to the table.

It is almost enough to make you forget about chasing bracelets.

Alberta online poker is finally moving forward.

The province has opened up registration for private operators and published a set of rules covering everything from onboarding to enforcement.

Dale Nally, the minister in charge, told the Edmonton Journal that launching the new market will take “a few months,” but there’s no firm date yet. The standards are out, the applications are open, and now the waiting begins.

Alberta is set to become only the second Canadian province to officially regulate online poker, making it a notable move for players and operators alike.

Briefly, the prediction markets felt it was a lock that the cap on gambling loss reduction would be repealed by next year.

With Kalshi at 97% for repeal by 2027. But don’t get too excited. The market has low liquidity, and it can shift with one big market maker adjusting their position. It was probably due to the hearing in the House Rules Committee yesterday.

Things have shifted back down since: at the time of writing, we’re at 39% for repeal by next year. Still, it’s one we’ll be watching.

No idea what any of this is about? here’s our primer from last year. Not a lot has changed since, other than various legislative efforts to repeal.

Kmart has only gone and done it!

Kevin Martin loves nothing more than big-brother-style streams. So this time, he decided to spend the whole weekend in isolation for the 'Warroom’ Finale, promising viewers a marathon of high-stakes poker action. His commitment was not just to play, but to lock in for the long haul.

“I’m locking myself in. High stakes all weekend!”

The final numbers? Twenty-nine thousand in buy-ins, just over twenty-nine thousand in cashes.

Lex Veldhuis is glad to be back!

Eight-figure guarantee for GGMasters!

Bovada enters the chat.

Just like its counterpart Ignition, Bovada claims the bot farm video dates back to 2022. The brand reaffirms its commitment to “player safety and security.”

However, there is a very good reason regulated sites exist. If you don’t live in a state with legalized online gambling, that sucks, but if you choose to play on a site like this, it is always at your own risk.

Ignition Casino responds to that bot farm video.

The company says the video dates back to 2022, but Martin Zamani claims otherwise — saying it is from 2024.

We feel this saga is far from over. Who do you believe?

Grassroots efforts to bring legalized gaming to the US sometimes pay off.

PokerStrategy weighs in on the footage showing a bustling bot farm running over 100 accounts on Ignition and Bovada, all colluding in tournaments.

The bot farm, apparently based in China, had its operation exposed by Martin Zamani, who posted video evidence on X, with monitors displaying the bots in action.

Zamani, previously known for outing other poker scandals, claims site security has turned a blind eye despite the high stakes involved. Community reaction was swift, with many players chiming in that botting is a long-standing issue on these platforms.

“They’ve known about for ages and done nothing. It’s highstakes and this isn’t the entire operation either and they just don’t care. Enough is enough of this shit. (I didn’t create the bot or the video)I don’t think this is happening on…”

Phenom Poker goes full crypto. What could possibly go wrong?

Phenom Poker has announced that its PHNM token will soon be listed on a decentralized exchange, where players will watch its value rise or fall according to market whims.

The token was meant to give players a stake in the platform, but the company is now moving to a market model. Rakeback will be paid in USDT, but players can opt to automatically buy PHNM if they want.

Site CEO Matt Valeo told PokerOrg:

“The whole idea is we essentially tokenized ownership interest in an innovative new poker site. In most businesses, a couple of people hold the stock, and maybe over time the company goes public. But the community, or the users of the product, don’t get to participate in any of that upside.”

Some players, meanwhile, aren’t convinced the community angle is more than a marketing pitch, especially with a temporary freeze on redemptions. But for those who want to bet on the future of the platform, PHNM is about to become a whole lot more liquid.

BetRivers finally launches its long-teased Splash the Pot feature.

BetRivers Poker has rolled out its long-awaited Splash the Pot feature across all cash game tables.

In Ivan’s article, he explains that this feature randomly adds bonus cash to pots before the flop, with flashy gold pot graphics so you cannot miss the action.

PokerStars USA outlines why they are a safe place to play.

Tend to agree with this take.

How is there not more context surrounding this bot farm video?

Also, we’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: only play on regulated sites, folks. There’s a reason.

ClubWPT Gold weigh in on Bovada bot farm debate.

WTAF! Check out this massive bot farm on Ignition/ Bovada.

GGPoker tries to win back hearts (and wallets) with a $10 million do-over.

After the abrupt cancellation of the GGMasters 5th Anniversary Freezeout in 2025 due to technical issues, GGPoker is hoping to regain players’ trust by launching the 6th Anniversary edition with a massive $10 million guarantee and a $150 buy-in.

The schedule is packed with multiple Day 1 flights and a Last Chance entry for those who want one more shot at the prize.

PokerStars wants to send you to Dublin!

PokerStars is running a new promo for the upcoming Irish Poker Open. The new Emerald Power Pass tacks on extra value for players, giving Silver Pass winners a shot at more than just the standard package.

Winners who upgrade to the Emerald Pass receive entry tickets to the Main Event, a side event, and now a €250 Mini Irish Open event. PokerStars is also covering extra cash for expenses.

The Irish Open itself is hyped as one of the most entertaining poker festivals worldwide, promising big guarantees and an even bigger crowd.

That one has got to hurt.

ClubWPT Gold has reopened to New York residents, following a brief absence.

The re-launch was teased by Doug Polk and confirmed via social media and email to registered players.

There’s no big shake-up for New York players this time. Unlike California, which got 'special Game Days’ after sweepstakes bans, New Yorkers just get to return to business as usual.

The main change is a new in-game currency: 'Chips,’ which replace the previous dual-currency system and now accompany tokens for hand analysis.

According to BetMGM Poker, the 2026 Borgata Winter Poker Open is off to a strong start with millions in guarantees and a schedule that’s drawing players from far and wide.

The Almighty Million Winter Kick Off saw a huge turnout, with the guarantee smashed and the final table streamed on YouTube for anyone who missed the action in person.

Michael Renna, a well-known Borgata regular, overcame a chip deficit to claim his biggest payday yet—$190,740 and a shiny new trophy. The event’s hybrid championship also made waves, with online and live play bringing in hundreds of entries.

BetMGM is still running satellites for those who think they have what it takes. As the Borgata Winter Poker Open passes its halfway mark, there’s still plenty of poker left to play—and more trophies to be handed out.

The WSOP Online Super Circuit is back with $2 million in guarantees and 18 ring events for players in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.

The series runs from January 8 to 25, with a $250k guaranteed Main Event closing things out. If you’re into variety, there are 6-Max Hold’em, PLO, PKO, and Mystery Bounty events in the mix.

For players looking for something less high-stakes, there are $100 and $215 buy-in events, while high rollers can aim for the $1k and $2k tournaments on January 20 and 13. Several events boast six-figure prize pools, including the $100k NLH Deepstack and $150k Mystery Bounty tournaments.