PokerStars’ launch on FanDuel strengthens its foothold in the US online poker market

PokerStars on the FanDuel platform is showing growth in the stagnant US online poker market, increasing revenue by 14% in key states.

PokerStars on FanDuel strengthens its position in the stagnant US online poker market PokerStars Growth on FanDuel: New Data and Trends Amid the overall stagnation of the regulated online poker market in the US, PokerStars on the FanDuel platform is showing noticeable growth. According to recent estimates from Poker Industry PRO, published on Pokerfuse, in August PokerStars on FanDuel generated about $2.6 million in revenue across Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This is a 14% increase compared to the same period last year. For an industry where even single-digit growth is considered a success, this result looks especially impressive. Especially since the market as a whole is stagnating: total regulated online poker revenue in the US for August was about $8.8 million, which is almost unchanged from the last four months and 2% less than a year ago. The country’s largest network — WSOP Online — lost 10% of its revenue year-over-year, while BetMGM Poker dropped by 16%. Thus, PokerStars is not just growing along with the market, but is actually gaining market share in an environment where the market itself is barely increasing. Pool Merging and Platform Migration: Key Changes In April, PokerStars moved its US players from its old proprietary software to the iPoker platform, launching operations under the FanDuel brand. This allowed players from Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey to be merged into a single pool — meaning players from these states can now play together at the same tables. Five months after the transition, the results confirm the effectiveness of these changes. From April to August, PokerStars on FanDuel earned about $12.9 million, compared to $11.8 million for the same period in 2025. That’s a 9.4% increase. Progress is especially noticeable in New Jersey, where PokerStars is now considered the largest individual poker room in the state and has shown growth of about 30% year-over-year. However, the combined BetMGM network (including Borgata and PartyPoker) still holds the lead in total revenue in the region. In Michigan, PokerStars’ growth rate is estimated to be similar. Pennsylvania remains an exception: despite access to the merged pool, PokerStars PA is still showing negative dynamics compared to last year. Overall, the trends point to increasing competitiveness for PokerStars on FanDuel. Not Just Pool Merging: New Tournaments and Promotions The success of PokerStars on FanDuel is explained not only by the merging of player pools (shared liquidity), but also by active efforts to improve the user experience. After launching under the FanDuel brand, the operator introduced a number of changes aimed at making the platform more attractive. In July, the starting stack in the daily Nightly Stars tournament was increased from 5,000 to 10,000 chips, and late registration was extended. Guaranteed prize pools rose to $25,000 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and to $22,500 on other days. These changes allowed players to start with more chips, enter or re-enter for longer, and compete for larger prize pools. Soon after, a weekly Nightly Stars leaderboard was introduced, adding another $2,500 in tournament tickets every week. This gives players extra incentives to participate in tournaments regularly. In addition, PokerStars is actively leveraging the new FanDuel brand in other ways. For example, the traditional Spin & Go format was reimagined in the style of the NFL season and named Spin & Field Goal. In the $5 version, players compete for a chance at a $1 million jackpot. While none of these promotions alone explains the 14% revenue growth, together they point to a well-thought-out strategy for retaining and engaging players. Where Is the Growth Coming From: Are Players Switching from Competitors? The key question raised by the new data: how is PokerStars on FanDuel increasing its revenue? The overall regulated online poker market in the US is barely growing: PokerStars is up 14%, while WSOP Online and BetMGM are down 10% and 16%, respectively. This doesn’t necessarily mean that every dollar earned by PokerStars came directly from competitors. Revenue statistics don’t reveal exactly how players split their activity between different sites. However, the trend clearly shows: PokerStars on FanDuel is increasing its share of the existing market, not just benefiting from an influx of new players. Pokerfuse describes the situation as “poaching” players from competitors. At the moment, out of the three largest networks in the US, only PokerStars is showing year-over-year growth. The next challenge for the operator is to attract truly new players to legal online poker, rather than simply redistributing the existing audience among rooms. Detailed Results Table and Comparative Statistics Total PokerStars on FanDuel revenue (August): $2,600,000 (+14% year-over-year) Total PokerStars on FanDuel revenue (April–August): $12,900,000 (vs. $11,800,000 for the same period in 2025, up 9.4%) Total regulated US market revenue (August): $8,800,000 (unchanged over the last 4 months, -2% year-over-year) WSOP Online: -10% year-over-year BetMGM Poker: -16% year-over-year PokerStars in New Jersey: ~30% year-over-year growth, largest individual room in the state PokerStars in Michigan: similar growth rate PokerStars in Pennsylvania: negative year-over-year trend Nightly Stars: starting stack increased from 5,000 to 10,000 chips, guarantees — $25,000 (Tue, Thu), $22,500 (other days) Weekly Nightly Stars leaderboard: $2,500 in tournament tickets every week Spin & Field Goal: Spin & Go format with NFL theme, $1,000,000 jackpot for $5 Context: What Is PokerStars on FanDuel and Why Does It Matter? PokerStars is one of the most recognized brands in online poker, while FanDuel is a major US gambling operator. In 2024, PokerStars merged its US sites under the FanDuel brand and switched to the iPoker platform, creating a shared player pool across three states: Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This move was key to PokerStars’ growth amid a stagnant market. A series of changes, including improved tournament structures, increased guarantees, and new promotions, allowed PokerStars not only to retain existing users but also to increase its market share at the expense of competitors, despite the lack of overall industry growth. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is an important signal: even in mature and stagnant markets, success is achieved by constantly improving player conditions. PokerStars on FanDuel managed to grow thanks to merging player pools, increasing guarantees, thoughtful promotions, and improved tournament structures. For club players, this is an example of how well-organized games and a flexible rewards system can maintain interest even in challenging conditions. The second important takeaway: competition between platforms leads to better services and more opportunities for players. Even if the overall market isn’t growing, players benefit from operators having to compete for their attention by offering new formats, bonuses, and better conditions. Finally, the experience of PokerStars on FanDuel shows that merging player pools and cross-regional tournaments can significantly boost activity and prize pools. For PPPoker clubs, this is a reason to consider developing interclub leagues, joint promotions, and closer cooperation between clubs to increase overall interest and prize funds.