The US online poker scene is expected to have big growth soon.
This news follows the announcement by one of the leading operators, PokerStars, of its partnership with FanDuel, and it appears that the online poker site will likely offer its services to more states.
The recent partnership between PokerStars and FanDuel will give players the opportunity to bet on sports and play poker and casino games on a single platform.
We're talking about one of the biggest changes PokerStars has made in years to its North American approach.
Only three U.S. states have authorized PokerStars to offer its services: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan.
Furthermore, only nine U.S. states have legalized online poker, and Maine is the most recent state to do so.
According to industry observers, PokerStars could expand into new markets if more states legalize online poker.
PokerStars Hints at Future Growth
At the moment, the operator has not issued a statement about expanding to new states.
Still, a post on X by the PokerStars blog hints at the fact that the company has future plans to expand its market share.
As advocates of regulated poker, we hope to expand to more states in the coming months and years. Keep an eye on our channels for updates.
— PokerStars Blog (@PokerStarsBlog) March 4, 2026
PokerStars indicated that it wants to expand its platform to more states in the future when asked about possible launches like the one that has been talked about in Nevada.
The company has not issued a clear guideline but has informed players to stay updated on its latest news.
In 2016, California tried to legalize online poker, but the proposal didn't work out.
In 2021, North Dakota and Illinois also tried to pass similar laws but failed.
Lawmakers in New York discussed it again in 2024, but they didn't pass a law.
There are some issues with the new FanDuel interface, but it might help PokerStars grow in areas where FanDuel is already well-known, such as states with established strong user bases and brand recognition, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which are key markets for online poker.
At the moment, FanDuel Casino is available in states that have authorized online poker, such as West Virginia and Connecticut.
FanDuel Sportsbook is also popular in 27 states, giving the company a strong position all over the country.
PokerStars’ Long Road Back to the U.S.
PokerStars has a strained relationship with the US online poker market, and growing to more states will not be easy.
When it first launched in 2001, PokerStars had already established itself as one of the biggest online poker rooms.
It got bigger with the help of the big hit Moneymaker Effect.
After winning a small $86 satellite event on PokerStars, amateur player Chris Moneymaker went on to win the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event.
This created a massive boom and drew many people into online poker.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last forever.
Lawmakers in the United States passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.
Online gambling operators had a hard time taking payments from American players because of this.
In spite of many other poker sites leaving the U.S. market, PokerStars stayed in business.
Eventually, it became the world's largest online poker room.
Everything changed on April 15, 2011, which poker players called "Black Friday".
The US Department of Justice charged a number of big poker companies with bank theft, money laundering, and operating illegal gambling sites.
Authorities seized domain names and player funds, which altered the way online poker works.
Rebuilding the Brand State by State
Finally, in 2012, PokerStars reached a deal with the US government and agreed to pay $731 million.
As part of the deal, the business also acquired Full Tilt Poker.
Additionally, PokerStars refunded players who had their money frozen on the site.
After having resolved its legal issues, PokerStars began working with state officials to re-enter the U.S. market.
The federal government doesn't regulate internet poker, necessitating a fresh start for the industry in each state.
This was PokerStars' first public return since Black Friday, and it started in New Jersey in 2016.
PokerStars was the first company approved to operate in Pennsylvania in 2019, the next state to join.
After Michigan legalised online gambling in 2021, the business moved there.
In 2023, PokerStars took a big step forward when they merged the player pools in Michigan and New Jersey.
This meant that people from both states could play the same tournaments and cash games.
FanDuel Integration Creates Larger Player Pools
Flutter Entertainment, the company that owns PokerStars and FanDuel, reported in March 2026 that it would radically alter the PokerStars platform.
FanDuel will become the exclusive home for PokerStars in North America, launching in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ontario.
Expect bigger games, larger prizes, and more choices.
— PokerStars Blog (@PokerStarsBlog) March 3, 2026
A new system called PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel will replace the different PokerStars software used in the US and Ontario.
You can play poker, bet on sports, and play casino games on FanDuel.
Players from Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania can now play with each other.
This feature is one of the biggest changes.
Players from all three states will be able to play against each other on a unified network.
A lot more games, bigger prizes, and bigger events happen when there are more players.
For poker players across the US, the change could mark the start of a new season of growth.
Within the next few years, if more states start to control internet poker, PokerStars might be able to reach more people across the country.
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