Our verdict
8.2/10PokerStars still has the widest game list of any room we looked at, from Hold'em and Omaha to Razz, Badugi and mixed games, plus free tables for beginners. The US move to FanDuel limits real-money play to three states and cost players a separate login. Best poker menu, narrower reach, and rakeback that needs checking.
Best for: Players who want many poker formats and a large tournament schedule
What we liked
- Lists Hold'em, Omaha, Stud, Draw and mixed games such as HORSE and 8-Game
- Free tables let beginners learn without risking money
- Hundreds of ring game tables and weekly tournaments, per the games page
- In the US, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania now share one player pool
What held it back
- US real-money play is only in three states, on FanDuel's platform
- Old PokerStars US accounts did not migrate automatically
- The games page publishes no rake figures or blind levels
- The casino offer is capped at 100 with a 7-day clock and an 8 bet limit
Key facts
- Operator
- Flutter Entertainment (PokerStars brand)
- US platform
- PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel, launched 1 April 2026
- US states
- Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, one shared pool
- Minimum age
- 21 in the US; you must be inside a live state to play
- Holdem variants
- Texas, 6+, Showtime, Split and Swap Hold'em
- Omaha variants
- Omaha High, Hi/Lo, 5 Card, 6 Card, Courchevel
- Free play
- Free tables with play-money chips
- Casino offer
- 100% match up to 100 with code CASINO100, minimum 10, on the international site
- Mobile
- iOS and Android apps
The question every poker player asks about PokerStars in 2026 is not whether the software is good. It is where you can use it. In the US the brand now runs through FanDuel, in three states, while the international site still carries the full catalogue. Our verdict: PokerStars remains the best all-round poker room by game variety, with a smaller US footprint and a rewards scheme you should read before you commit.
Poker is a skill game with a house cut. You pay rake on every pot and every tournament fee, and a room's edge is paid by players as a group. Treat it as entertainment you pay for, not as an income.
What changed when the US moved to FanDuel
Per PokerNews and coverage of the announcement, PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel went live on 1 April 2026 in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Michigan and New Jersey had shared a pool since January 2023. Pennsylvania joined it with the launch, so all three now play together.
The costs are practical. The old US software was replaced by a new platform, and former PokerStars US accounts did not move across on their own. Existing FanDuel customers can sign in with FanDuel details; everyone else makes a new account. You must be 21 and physically inside one of the three states. Ontario was part of the original plan and is not in the US pool.
If you live elsewhere in America, the answer is simple: you cannot play real-money PokerStars at all, and the free tables are the only option.
The games menu, which is the point
The games page is where no rival matches it. We counted these families:
Hold'em: Texas, 6+, Showtime, Split and Swap.
Omaha: High, Hi/Lo, 5 Card, 5 Card Hi/Lo, 6 Card, Courchevel and Courchevel Hi/Lo.
Stud: Seven Card Stud, Hi/Lo and Razz.
Draw: Five Card Draw, 2-7 Triple and Single Draw, Badugi.
Mixed: HORSE, 8-Game Mix, Fusion and All-In Poker.
It also links Spin & Go, Power Path and tournaments. The page says Texas Hold'em has hundreds of ring tables and hundreds of tournaments every week, but gives no blind levels or rake percentages. A "Poker Table Rake" page exists and we did not find it summarised on the lobby page itself, so check it before you sit.
Not every format will run in every state. The US pool is a fraction of the international one, so expect the exotic games to appear less often at small stakes.
Free tables and the phone
The free poker page is useful for beginners: at free tables the only thing at stake is play money, and you can practise new formats. That is a genuine strength, though play-money tables behave loosely and teach few real habits.
The mobile page covers iOS and Android apps. Whether the US FanDuel app matches them feature for feature is something to confirm after download.
The offer and the rewards
The international casino offer is the one we could read in full. It is a 100% match with code CASINO100, minimum deposit 10, but deposits above 100 count only up to 100. The bonus must be converted by earning 5 redemption points per 1 of bonus within 7 days, winnings from it are capped at 20 times the bonus, and the maximum bet with bonus funds is 8. A further 100 free spins at 0.10 each unlock after wagering the deposit once within 7 days. This is a slots offer, not a poker offer, and it is not for US residents on the FanDuel platform.
On rewards, PokerListings reported in January 2026 that PokerStars had revamped its scheme with up to 65% rakeback and a mostly positive reception. Other review sites argue that effective rakeback fell for regular players, but their figures are poorly sourced. We would not rely on either until you have checked what a month of your own volume earns.
Who should play
Pick PokerStars if you like variety, play outside the US or live in one of the three FanDuel states, and want tournaments on tap. Choose something else if you live in a state without regulated poker, hate rewards that need tracking, or only ever play one format, where a smaller site may suit you equally well.
Set a session budget, never play with rent money, and use the room's deposit limits and time-outs. If poker stops being enjoyable, stop and speak to BeGambleAware or the National Problem Gambling Helpline.