PokerStars’ UK migration to the Betfair platform went live on Oct. 7, making PokerStars on Betfair the exclusive route for British online poker players. The rollout retains PokerStars games, shared player pools and major series including the Sunday Million, WCOOP and SCOOP, while introducing the Stack+ real-money poker loyalty programme.
As we reported in August, PokerStars had announced a UK-specific move to the Betfair platform while preserving access to its global player pool. PokerNews reported that the completed transition brings British PokerStars customers together under the PokerStars on Betfair brand, using the same PokerStars software.
Existing PokerStars customers can use the Betfair desktop client or mobile app and sign in with their PokerStars credentials to transfer their account, balances, T-Money and active tournament tickets. Customers who already have a Betfair account should use those credentials and withdraw any remaining funds from the legacy PokerStars.uk cashier. Betfair balances are held in pounds sterling.
The change also replaces PokerStars Casino and PokerStars Sports in the UK with Betfair Casino and Betfair Sportsbook. PokerStars has described the arrangement as combining Betfair’s UK consumer brand with PokerStars’ poker product.
Stack+ is an opt-in programme for qualifying real-money cash games and tournaments. Players enrol through the main poker lobby and earn points towards seven levels, with rakeback beginning once they reach 500 points. The programme offers up to 25% rakeback, and a higher rate applies immediately to subsequent play when a player reaches a new level.
Points reset at the start of each calendar month, although players retain the level they earned for the following month. Redeemed rakeback cash carries no play-through or wagering requirement.
The UK restructuring forms part of Flutter’s wider PokerStars network strategy. PokerStars has said fragmented regulation has led to thinner fields and smaller tournament prizes, and that combining brands is intended to improve liquidity and player pools. Players may retain accounts with more than one brand, but can play through only one account at a time.
Paddy Power Poker and Sky Poker are planned to move onto PokerStars software in the following months, joining Betfair in the network model. The model has previously been used with Sisal and SNAI in Italy and with FanDuel in North America.
