The standalone PokerStars US brand is gone. Here's everything you need to know about the new tri-state platform and what it means for the future of US online poker.
On April 1, 2026, the landscape of US online poker changed for the first time in over a decade. Flutter Entertainment officially retired the standalone PokerStars US brand and relaunched it as "PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel" — a unified tri-state platform combining Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania into the largest regulated online poker network in North America. This is the biggest merger the US regulated online poker market has ever seen, and it's worth understanding what just happened.
For the first time ever, Pennsylvania online poker players share tables with Michigan and New Jersey players. That creates the largest regulated online poker hub in North America. It's not a small change — it's the biggest structural shift in US online poker since the 2011 "Black Friday" shutdown that drove PokerStars out of the country for years.
The platform is currently live in three states where both Flutter-owned brands (PokerStars and FanDuel) hold regulated online poker licenses:
Pennsylvania is the big addition. The Keystone State joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in 2025, but PokerStars PA remained walled off from the combined MI/NJ pool. That changed on April 1 — PA players are now in the tri-state network.
To celebrate the merger, FanDuel opened with a substantial schedule of guaranteed tournaments. The message is clear: combined liquidity = bigger prize pools.
The classic Sunday Million format returns to US players. Two events later in April 2026, each with $500K guaranteed prize pools — $1M total that was impossible under the fragmented old structure.
Launch promotional series running through April. Designed as a welcome promotion for players navigating the new software. Lower stakes, multiple events.
Your poker bankroll is now shared with FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Casino. Move funds between products without transfers. Single account, single deposit.
New signups get a 100% deposit match up to $1,000, plus $30 in tournament tickets for Spin & Go and satellites.
This move isn't random — it's the execution of Flutter Entertainment's "local hero" strategy. Flutter CEO Peter Jackson has publicly said the plan is to "integrate [PokerStars] product capability into FanDuel." In the US, FanDuel is the chosen hero brand.
Why it makes sense:
The merger opens the door to quick expansion into states where FanDuel already has casino licenses but PokerStars never launched:
West Virginia — Online poker legal, FanDuel Casino already operating. Low-hanging fruit.
Connecticut — Same situation as WV. FanDuel present, online poker permitted.
Ontario, Canada — A similar PokerStars Ontario integration is scheduled for later in 2026.
Newly legalizing states — Maine legalized online casino and poker in January 2026; Illinois has legislation in play. FanDuel is positioned to move first.
Online poker remains illegal in Florida. The Seminole Compact grants exclusive online gambling rights to the tribe, and Hard Rock Bet doesn't offer online cash-game poker. Pending legislation (HB 189 in the 2026 session) would explicitly criminalize playing on non-Seminole online platforms — so PokerStars x FanDuel won't be accessible here even if you're in-state on a VPN. For online practice, Florida players still have free-play options and the occasional rental-room game. For real-money poker, it's live play only — and the Big Easy Casino remains our pick for the best room in the state.
The US online poker market just consolidated into its biggest configuration since 2011. PokerStars x FanDuel has Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania all playing in one pool — and it's likely going to grow. Florida isn't on the list yet, and won't be any time soon.