PokerStars x FanDuel — for real this time?

A new era of PokerStars is coming in the US and Ontario.

As you already know, PokerStars is about to get merged with FanDuel in North America. It will be quite a major shake-up and some big changes are coming with it.

Here’s what we know so far about FanDuel Poker:

• Legacy PokerStars software will be retired in the US and Ontario
• Players from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan will be pooled together
• New platform will include a built-in HUD (with option to turn it off + allow third-party HUDs)
• Players will need to create new screen names
• Separate welcome offer for poker players (available to everyone)
• Mixed games are expected down the line
• Zoom & Spin & Go formats will be available
• New software, but with a familiar PokerStars look and feel
• April 30 is the deadline to withdraw from existing PokerStars accounts
• No official launch date for the merger yet

One more thing: PokerStars Rewards has already been discontinued for US players, and there’ll be no rewards until the new platform goes live.

PokerStars Ontario is bringing the heat with a Bounty Builder Series ahead of the FanDuel merger.

As anticipation builds around the upcoming FanDuel–PokerStars merger, PokerStars has announced a new tournament series for players in Ontario.

The Bounty Builder Series will run from March 13 to 23, featuring a total of C$750,000 in guaranteed prize pools.

Interestingly, the series could end up being the last major tournament festival on PokerStars Ontario before the impending FanDuel x PokerStars integration takes place, which could happen in the coming weeks.

For now, though, the announcement appears limited to Ontario. No similar Bounty Builder Series has been scheduled for players in the United States.

People are reacting strongly to what could be online poker’s biggest merger ever.

Yesterday, PokerStars confirmed its merger with US sportsbook giant and sister brand, FanDuel. The merger will apply to the US and Ontario markets, with the transition expected to take place soon.

As part of the change, PokerStars’ three US states will be combined into a single shared network. A brand-new poker client will also be introduced under the name “PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel,” while the existing PokerStars software will be retired in the US and Ontario.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the standout responses to the PokerStars x FanDuel merger.

A new era for US and Ontario poker just began.

We called it. And now it’s official.

PokerStars is merging with FanDuel in the US and Ontario.

What does it actually mean for players, competition, promos, and the future of the industry?

Here’s the breakdown 🧵👇

Barry Carter on PStrat with his take on the FanDuel/PokerStars report.

We’re simple folk. You link to us, we link to you. And friend of the fuse Barry C did this nice summary and writeup of our exclusive report last week on this FanDuel/PokerStars tie-up.

What makes us think FanDuel Poker from PokerStars is coming soon?

Well, we know that FanDuel are testing a poker client in New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania under combined PokerStars-FanDuel branding.

Plus we have spotted job posts for poker roles at FanDuel.

Oh and three, a long-time product manager at PokerStars made a move to FanDuel.

The FanDuel x PokerStars merger rumor mill churns on, and we are partly to blame.

Nick’s latest piece on pokerfuse suggests we might actually see FanDuel and PokerStars join forces in the US. For nine months, there has been little more than speculation about merging the two under parent company Flutter, but now some concrete signs are emerging that is actually might be happening.