PokerStars Review (2026)
The most widely licensed poker room in the world, now folded into Flutter's local brands. Where it is legal and what changed for players in 2026.
Verified 9 September 2026- Founded
- 2001
- Network
- PokerStars (Flutter)
- Games
- No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Stud & mixed games, Spin & Go
- Rake
- Around 5% cash, capped by stake
- Apps
- Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Our rating
- 4.4 / 5
Where it is licensed
| Country | Regulator | Licence | Domain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE Germany | GGL | pokerstars.de | Visit | |
| IT Italy | ADM | GAD 16023 | pokerstars.it | Visit |
| ES Spain | DGOJ | pokerstars.es | Visit | |
| FR France | ANJ | pokerstars.fr | Visit | |
| PT Portugal | SRIJ | pokerstars.pt | Visit | |
| SE Sweden | Spelinspektionen | pokerstars.se | Visit | |
| DK Denmark | Spillemyndigheden | pokerstars.dk | Visit | |
| BR Brazil | SPA/MF | pokerstars.bet.br | Visit | |
| CA-ON Ontario | iGO / AGCO | pokerstars.ca | Visit | |
| RO Romania | ONJN | pokerstars.ro | Visit | |
| GR Greece | HGC | pokerstars.gr | Visit | |
| US United States | NJ DGE, MI MGCB, PA PGCB | pokerstars.com | Visit |
What we like
- Licensed in more regulated markets than any other room
- Deepest game selection, from stud and mixed games to Spin & Go
- Most reliable software and cashier in the business
What we don't
- Rewards cut again and again since 2016, and once more after the 2026 UK duty rise
- Affiliate programmes closed across most of Europe in 2026, so fewer promotions reach players
- UK skin closing, with players moved to the Betfair, Sky Bet and Paddy Power brands
Games and traffic
PokerStars still has the widest lobby in online poker, with more variants and formats than any other room, and it is the one client where you can reliably find a stud or mixed game running. In shared-liquidity Southern Europe it holds the largest cash-game pool alongside Winamax, and in a ring-fenced market like Italy it dominates.
The software is why people stay: nothing crashes and the cashier works. Nobody has played here for the rewards in years.
The 2026 restructuring
Flutter ended PokerStars affiliate deals across the UK, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium in early 2026, keeping only Spain, France, Portugal and the international site. The UK skin is being folded into Betfair, Sky Bet and Paddy Power, and the North American rooms now carry the FanDuel name. Licensing status is unchanged by any of this, but there are fewer promotions and the brand looks different in every market.
Verdict
Still the safest room in any regulated market and the best one for mixed games. Tournament players in markets where GGPoker is licensed will find bigger guarantees there.
Frequently asked questions
What is PokerStars on FanDuel?
Flutter’s North American brand for PokerStars. In Ontario and in the US states of New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania the room now operates under the FanDuel banner.
Is PokerStars still licensed in the UK?
Yes, the licence remains. The standalone PokerStars UK skin is being retired, and from August 2026 players move to PokerStars on Betfair.