The Power Play Behind PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel

When PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel launched in April across Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, it marked more than another app rollout.

The launch brought together two of Flutter's biggest brands, FanDuel and PokerStars, to establish one of the largest regulated online poker networks in North America.

As FanDuel's first poker offering, it connects sportsbook, casino, and poker under a single wallet—letting customers move seamlessly between products while accessing a broader shared player pool.

Two Brands, One Big Idea

With more than 25 years in the industry, PokerStars brings deep poker expertise, global recognition, and one of the most established player communities in the game.

Aaron Dugan, General Manager of PokerStars, has worked within the Flutter network for over a decade. He’s seen his fair share of products go from idea to concept—but this PokerStars project stands out to him.

"This is the merging of two powerhouse brands," said Dugan. "We're confident that bringing these two brands together will create something greater than the sum of their parts."

Building for Every Type of Player

FanDuel’s unified wallet became one of the biggest advantages.

Customers can move between sportsbook, casino, and poker without transferring money between separate accounts, creating a more smooth experience across products. 

“We wanted to make sure that we seamlessly integrate within the FanDuel ecosystem as best as possible,” said Dugan. “We've considered every touchpoint of the user journey onboarding from PokerStars, but also onboarding from the FanDuel business as well.”

This meant building for three different audiences: longtime PokerStars players new to FanDuel, customers who already used both brands, and FanDuel Sportsbook and Casino players trying PokerStars for the first time. 

For experienced poker players, FanDuel created a downloadable desktop client designed to preserve the feel and familiarity of PokerStars.

For more casual players, the mobile app on iOS and Android offers an experience that feels consistent with FanDuel’s sportsbook and casino products while retaining that PokerStars heritage.

Expanding the Table

By connecting players across Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, FanDuel and PokerStars created a shared network instead of limiting games to individual state player pools.

That matters because online poker depends on liquidity—the number of active players available at any given time. A larger shared network gives players access to more tournaments and formats.

The impact has been immediate. In the nine weeks since launch, PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel has dealt more than 28 million poker hands.

"We wanted to make this a customer-first experience," said Dugan. "That means bigger games, larger prize pools, and more ways to play, whether you're on mobile or desktop."

Since the April launch, FanDuel has continued to refine the experience based on customer feedback from forums, app stores, and social media. Those learnings helped shape the platform’s most recent expansion: Ontario.

PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel launched in Ontario on June 4th, expanding the brand’s reach into Canada’s regulated market.

"The customers have shown us exactly where to focus to improve their experience," Dugan said. "We'll have a much more polished experience from day one in Ontario." 

The move continues the company’s push to build a more connected online poker experience across North America—one hand at time.

Learn more about FanDuel's recent product innovations.