PokerStars is changing the way its UK customers access the online poker platform as part of a wider restructuring of Flutter Entertainment’s poker operations.
From August 13, UK players will begin using the PokerStars on Betfair platform, bringing the two brands together while retaining the PokerStars poker software and access to its global player pool.
The move is the first stage of a broader strategy that will eventually bring other Flutter-owned poker brands into the same network.
PokerStars joins Betfair platform
The transition will initially affect customers in the UK. Rather than playing through the traditional PokerStars platform, players will access the PokerStars experience through Betfair.
Importantly, the change does not mean UK players are being separated from the wider PokerStars ecosystem.
They will continue to compete against players from the global PokerStars pool and retain access to major tournaments and products, including the Sunday Million, SCOOP, WCOOP, Spin & Go games and European Poker Tour qualification events.
The PokerStars software will remain at the centre of the experience, with the main change being the platform through which UK customers access it.
More Flutter poker brands expected to follow
The Betfair migration is only the beginning.
Flutter is also preparing to move Paddy Power Poker and Sky Poker onto PokerStars software in the coming months.
The strategy is designed to bring customers from multiple Flutter brands into shared poker liquidity pools.
For players, the expected result is larger cash-game and tournament fields, while Flutter hopes that increased liquidity will help strengthen the long-term appeal of its poker offering.
Flutter targets bigger player pools
The restructuring reflects a broader shift in how Flutter approaches the PokerStars brand.
PokerStars says regulatory fragmentation across international markets has made it increasingly difficult to maintain large player pools. Different rules from one jurisdiction to another have also forced operators to leave certain markets or avoid entering them altogether.
That fragmentation has had a direct impact on players, with smaller fields and reduced tournament prize pools in some markets.
Flutter’s new approach is therefore focused on consolidating liquidity where possible, particularly across its own brands.
PokerStars has already used a similar model in other markets, including Italy and North America, where brands such as Sisal, SNAI and FanDuel have been integrated into shared poker ecosystems.
PokerStars software remains the common platform
Despite the branding changes, PokerStars’ technology remains at the heart of the strategy.
The company intends to use its established poker software across the different Flutter brands while maintaining the same approach to game integrity and security.
PokerStars Chief Commercial Officer Mike Woodbridge said the company wants the new structure to reverse the decline in liquidity and encourage more players to return to online poker.
The expectation is that combining previously separate customer bases will create deeper player pools and more competitive tournaments.
Betfair Managing Director Kim Daly also described the integration as a significant development for the sector, highlighting the opportunity to combine poker with Betfair’s existing sportsbook and casino offering.
What UK players need to know
For UK PokerStars customers, the main change is how they access the game rather than what they can play.
From August 13, Betfair Poker customers will access the PokerStars global poker pool through the new PokerStars on Betfair client. UK PokerStars players will also use the new platform to continue accessing the international PokerStars ecosystem.
Players outside the UK are unaffected by the initial migration and can continue using PokerStars as normal.
Customer support teams from both PokerStars and Betfair are expected to guide players through the transition.
The restructuring marks a significant change for one of online poker’s most recognisable brands, but Flutter’s objective is clear: consolidate its poker operations, increase liquidity and build larger player pools across its international network.