PokerStars US shuts down on April 1, 2026. A new platform branded “PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel” will replace it, merging New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan into a single player pool for the first time. Old logins will not work, and no launch date for the replacement has been confirmed.

US players who would rather skip the migration have options. CoinPoker is a crypto-first room that welcomes US players, and ACR Poker has been serving the American market for over two decades. Below is everything you need to know before April 1.

This is the biggest structural change in US regulated online poker since the markets opened. Flutter Entertainment, which owns both PokerStars and FanDuel, announced the consolidation on March 3 as part of its strategy to route all US products through the FanDuel brand.

FanDuel’s iGaming division has roughly 4 million monthly active players, most of them in the three PokerStars states. The cross-sell potential from sportsbook and casino users into poker is the commercial logic behind the move.

What’s Happening on April 1

The timeline is tight. PokerStars has confirmed the April 1 closure but has not confirmed when the new platform goes live, creating a gap during which US players will have no PokerStars client available.

Players have until April 30 to withdraw balances from their old accounts. After that date, unclaimed funds will be mailed as cheques to the address on file.

What the New Platform Brings

The replacement is a ground-up rebuild, not a reskin. Several features that were technically possible but never activated in the US are confirmed for the new client.

Tri-state player pool (NJ, PA, MI)

For the first time, PokerStars will connect all three of its US states under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). Pennsylvania joined the compact in April 2025, but PokerStars never connected it to the existing NJ-MI pool.

PokerStars was actually the last major US operator to merge its player pools. WSOP Online already runs a four-state network. BetMGM Poker connects three states on the same footprint.

The delay is now explained by the pending FanDuel integration. According to PokerScout, PokerStars had dropped out of the US top two since April 2025. The larger combined pool should reverse that trend.

Sunday Million comes to the US ($1M weekly guarantee)

The Sunday Million will debut in the US regulated market with its signature $1 million guaranteed prize pool every week. The global version has run since 2006 at a $109 buy-in, though the US buy-in has not been confirmed.

Zoom Poker finally available in the US

Zoom Poker, PokerStars’ fast-fold cash game format, is confirmed for the new client. The old US software technically supported Zoom, but the format was never switched on because it requires substantial liquidity to function.

The tri-state pool removes that barrier. BetMGM has offered a fast-fold product called FastForward, but the tables have been effectively empty due to low traffic. Zoom is set to be the first viable, consistently running fast-fold product in US regulated poker.

If you are new to the format, our guide to fast-fold strategy and bankroll management covers the key adjustments.

Built-in HUD with third-party support

The new client includes a native heads-up display built directly into the poker software. Preview videos show the HUD overlay on tables, though PokerStars has not published a full breakdown of which statistics it tracks.

The key detail: third-party HUDs like PokerTracker 4 and Hold’em Manager 3 remain supported. A PokerStars representative confirmed this on the US Poker Discord, as reported by Pokerfuse.

This sets the platform apart. BetRivers Poker offers a built-in HUD but blocks third-party tools entirely. The new PokerStars client is the only US-regulated room offering both. For a broader look at tracking tool compatibility, see our list of rooms that still support third-party tracking tools.

What You Need to Do

Create a new FanDuel account

Every existing PokerStars US player must create a new FanDuel Casino account to access the new platform. Old PokerStars logins will not work.

If you already have a FanDuel sportsbook or casino account, you can use that login. You will still need to choose a new poker screen name, as existing FanDuel usernames cannot be reused for the poker client.

Reserve your username (Founders Table)

PokerStars launched the Founders Table membership programme around March 25 to let players lock in their current screen names before launch. Joining requires both a FanDuel Casino account and a PokerStars account.

Withdraw your balance before April 30

Old accounts remain accessible until April 30, 2026 for balance withdrawals. After that date, PokerStars will mail unclaimed funds as cheques to the address on file. Do not assume the balance transfers automatically.

What’s Missing from the New Platform

The new client brings significant upgrades, but several important details remain unresolved.

Ontario Transitions Separately

Ontario will also move to the new platform but remains ring-fenced. Its player pool will not merge with the US states under current regulations. The Ontario timeline trails the US by several weeks, with progressive jackpot removal scheduled for May 5.

A legal development could change this. In November 2025, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that players in the province could legally play peer-to-peer games against players outside Canada. The Canadian Lottery Coalition has appealed to the Supreme Court. If the ruling holds, cross-border pooling becomes a long-term possibility.

US Alternatives If You Don’t Want FanDuel

Not every PokerStars player wants to follow the migration. Some prefer crypto deposits. Some want to avoid the forced account reset. Some simply want to keep grinding without a gap in their schedule.

Two US-friendly rooms on the VIP-Grinders network are worth a look. ACR Poker’s 25-year track record in the US market makes it the most established option, with a full tournament schedule, HUD support, and a deep player pool.

CoinPoker runs on crypto, accepts US players, and is currently offering 100% rakeback through its new app promotion. Both rooms have no gap in service during the PokerStars transition.

What Happens Next

Flutter CEO Peter Jackson cited a similar PokerStars-to-local-brand migration in Italy that produced 13% revenue growth and more than doubled new customer volumes. The company has stated it plans to expand to more US states, with West Virginia and Connecticut the most likely near-term additions.

The competitive landscape is shifting. BetMGM Poker and WSOP Online each hold roughly 35% of the US market. A reinvigorated PokerStars backed by FanDuel’s customer base and marketing budget will test whether that balance holds.

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