PokerStars US shuts down on April 1, 2026. A brand new platform branded “PokerStars Completely on FanDuel” will substitute it, merging New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan right into a single participant pool for the primary time. Previous logins won’t work, and no launch date for the substitute has been confirmed.
US gamers who would reasonably skip the migration have choices. CoinPoker is a crypto-first room that welcomes US gamers, and ACR Poker has been serving the American marketplace for over twenty years. Under is all the things you want to know earlier than April 1.
That is the most important structural change in US regulated on-line poker because the markets opened. Flutter Leisure, which owns each PokerStars and FanDuel, introduced the consolidation on March 3 as a part of its technique to route all US merchandise by the FanDuel model.
FanDuel’s iGaming division has roughly 4 million month-to-month lively gamers, most of them within the three PokerStars states. The cross-sell potential from sportsbook and on line casino customers into poker is the business logic behind the transfer.
What’s Occurring on April 1
The timeline is tight. PokerStars has confirmed the April 1 closure however has not confirmed when the brand new platform goes stay, creating a niche throughout which US gamers can have no PokerStars consumer accessible.
Gamers have till April 30 to withdraw balances from their previous accounts. After that date, unclaimed funds will probably be mailed as cheques to the tackle on file.
What the New Platform Brings
The substitute is a ground-up rebuild, not a reskin. A number of options that have been technically potential however by no means activated within the US are confirmed for the brand new consumer.
Tri-state participant pool (NJ, PA, MI)
For the primary time, PokerStars will join all three of its US states below the Multi-State Web Gaming Settlement (MSIGA). Pennsylvania joined the compact in April 2025, however PokerStars by no means linked it to the prevailing NJ-MI pool.
PokerStars was really the final main US operator to merge its participant swimming pools. WSOP On-line already runs a four-state community. BetMGM Poker connects three states on the identical footprint.
The delay is now defined by the pending FanDuel integration. Visitors monitoring knowledge exhibits PokerStars had dropped out of the US high two since April 2025. The bigger mixed pool ought to reverse that pattern.
Sunday Million involves the US ($1M weekly assure)
The Sunday Million will debut within the US regulated market with its signature $1 million assured prize pool each week. The worldwide model has run since 2006 at a $109 buy-in, although the US buy-in has not been confirmed.
For context: that is by far the biggest recurring weekly event assure in any US regulated poker site. PokerStars ran a one-off “Million Greenback Sunday” promotion in NJ in April 2023, however the precise weekly Sunday Million format is new to the US market.
Zoom Poker lastly accessible within the US
Zoom Poker, PokerStars’ fast-fold money recreation format, is confirmed for the brand new consumer. The previous US software program technically supported Zoom, however the format was by no means switched on as a result of it requires substantial liquidity to operate.
The tri-state pool removes that barrier. BetMGM has supplied a fast-fold product referred to as FastForward, however the tables have been successfully empty on account of low visitors. Zoom is ready to be the primary viable, persistently working fast-fold product in US regulated poker.
If you’re new to the format, our information to fast-fold technique and bankroll administration covers the important thing changes.
Constructed-in HUD with third-party help
The brand new consumer features a native heads-up show constructed straight into the poker software program. Preview movies present the HUD overlay on tables, although PokerStars has not revealed a full breakdown of which statistics it tracks.
The important thing element: third-party HUDs like PokerTracker 4 and Maintain’em Supervisor 3 stay supported. A PokerStars consultant confirmed this on the US Poker Discord on March 7, 2026.
This units the platform aside. BetRivers Poker affords a built-in HUD however blocks third-party instruments fully. The brand new PokerStars consumer is the one US-regulated room providing each. For a broader have a look at monitoring device compatibility, see our checklist of rooms that also help third-party monitoring instruments.
What You Must Do
Create a brand new FanDuel account
Each present PokerStars US participant should create a brand new FanDuel On line casino account to entry the brand new platform. Previous PokerStars logins won’t work.
If you have already got a FanDuel sportsbook or on line casino account, you should use that login. You’ll nonetheless want to decide on a brand new poker display screen identify, as present FanDuel usernames can’t be reused for the poker consumer.
Reserve your username (Founders Desk)
PokerStars launched the Founders Desk membership programme round March 25 to let gamers lock of their present display screen names earlier than launch. Becoming a member of requires each a FanDuel On line casino account and a PokerStars account.
Withdraw your stability earlier than April 30
Previous accounts stay accessible till April 30, 2026 for stability withdrawals. After that date, PokerStars will mail unclaimed funds as cheques to the tackle on file. Don’t assume the stability transfers routinely.
What’s Lacking from the New Platform
The brand new consumer brings vital upgrades, however a number of necessary particulars stay unresolved.
Ontario Transitions Individually
Ontario can even transfer to the brand new platform however stays ring-fenced. Its participant pool won’t merge with the US states below present laws. The Ontario timeline trails the US by a number of weeks, with progressive jackpot removing scheduled for Might 5.
A authorized improvement may change this. In November 2025, the Ontario Courtroom of Attraction dominated that gamers within the province may legally play peer-to-peer video games in opposition to gamers exterior Canada. The Canadian Lottery Coalition has appealed to the Supreme Courtroom. If the ruling holds, cross-border pooling turns into a long-term risk.
US Options If You Don’t Need FanDuel
Not each PokerStars participant desires to observe the migration. Some want crypto deposits. Some wish to keep away from the pressured account reset. Some merely wish to preserve grinding with out a hole of their schedule.
Two US-friendly rooms on the VIP-Grinders community are value a glance. ACR Poker’s 25-year monitor document within the US market makes it essentially the most established choice, with a full event schedule, HUD help, and a deep participant pool.
CoinPoker runs on crypto, accepts US gamers, and is at present providing 100% rakeback by its new app promotion. Each rooms don’t have any hole in service throughout the PokerStars transition.
What Occurs Subsequent
Flutter CEO Peter Jackson cited an identical PokerStars-to-local-brand migration in Italy that produced 13% income progress and greater than doubled new buyer volumes. The corporate has acknowledged it plans to broaden to extra US states, with West Virginia and Connecticut the almost definitely near-term additions.
The aggressive panorama is shifting. BetMGM Poker and WSOP On-line every maintain roughly 35% of the US market. A reinvigorated PokerStars backed by FanDuel’s buyer base and advertising and marketing funds will check whether or not that stability holds.
For ongoing protection, observe our newest poker trade protection.
