PokerStars Casino Review
PokerStars no longer operates as a standalone casino platform for UK players.
On 13 August 2026, PokerStars moved to Betfair, with Betfair’s poker experience powered exclusively by PokerStars, the world’s most recognisable poker brand. Existing PokerStars UK accounts will have been transferred to the Betfair platform, along with their existing balance.
Because the site no longer accepts UK registrations, we can no longer recommend it as a place to play. This page is now a historical record: what PokerStars offered, how to reach your balance, and which sister sites remain open to UK players.
One caution before you deposit anywhere. If a site presents itself as PokerStars and invites new UK registrations, check the operator on the UKGC public register first, because domains tied to departed brands can pass to unrelated owners.
PokerStars Operational History
PokerStars arrived online more than 20 years ago and grew into one of the most recognised names in poker, later adding a casino and sportsbook under the same account.
The UK site was operated under UKGC licence number 39108. Ownership sat with Flutter Entertainment, which placed PokerStars in the same family as Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Vegas.
Rather than renting a third-party platform, PokerStars ran its own poker network and software. That independence was rare among casino brands, and the poker schedule anchored everything: Hold’em cash games and structured tournament calendars ran around the clock.
On 13 August 2026, Flutter consolidated its UK setup. The casino, poker and sports products moved onto the Betfair platform, and pokerstars.uk stopped taking new UK registrations.
The standalone PokerStars Casino was replaced by Betfair Casino and the sportsbook by Betfair Sportsbook. The poker product continues as PokerStars on Betfair, with integrations on Paddy Power and Sky Bet announced for later in 2026.
How to Withdraw Funds From a Closed Casino
PokerStars is not a straight closure, so start with the specifics of this move. Balances were not stranded: existing UK accounts were transferred to Betfair automatically, and PokerStars login credentials work on the Betfair platform.
Cash balances, T-Money and active tournament tickets carried over intact, so withdrawals are now made through Betfair.
If you still hold a balance and cannot reach the account, contact the operator using the email address tied to the account.
Both PokerStars (licence 39108) and Betfair (licence 39439) remain licensed by the UKGC, so the operator remains obliged to honour withdrawal requests within a reasonable timeframe.
The same principles protect you at any casino that has genuinely closed. UKGC licence conditions require customer funds to be returned, and disputes can go to the ADR provider named in the casino’s original terms; IBAS is the common UK route.
GAMSTOP self-exclusion continues to apply across all UKGC operators. You can also request deletion of your data under GDPR, raising the matter with the ICO if the company behind a site has dissolved.
Why Do Online Casinos Close?
Online casinos leave a market for a handful of routine reasons, and the PokerStars move fits the most common one: corporate restructuring.
Large groups such as Flutter merge products onto shared platforms and retire duplicated brands because running one platform costs far less than running several. Players and staff typically move across to a sister site, which is exactly what happened here.
Financial viability is the second driver. Platform fees, game licensing, payment processing and compliance staff all scale with size, and smaller operators can simply run out of road in a crowded market.
Regulatory change is the third. Tighter UKGC requirements, from affordability checks to enhanced due diligence, push some operators to surrender their licence rather than fund the compliance work.
The sharpest reason is a licence suspension or revocation by the UKGC, which forces an immediate exit. None of that happened here: both licences stayed active, and the product continues inside the Flutter group.
What PokerStars Offered While It Was Open
The casino side of PokerStars carried more than 500 slot and table games. Playtech, Microgaming and IGT supplied the bulk of the library, which ran from classic fruit machines to video slots and Megaways titles.
Popular names included Big Bass Splash, Fishin’ Frenzy and Bonanza Megaways, and Evolution Gaming powered the live casino, dealing blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker variants from dedicated studios.
Poker remained the headline act, with a dedicated schedule of cash games, no-limit Hold’em tables and daily tournaments alongside the casino games.
Payments were flexible when we tested them. More than eight deposit methods and five withdrawal options were supported, deposits were instant, and the minimum deposit sat at £10 with no fees in either direction.
PayPal, Skrill and Neteller withdrawals typically cleared within 24 hours, with bank transfers taking 2-5 business days. Support ran 24/7 through a chatbot-assisted live chat, and email replies usually arrived within 24 hours.
Native iOS and Android apps matched the desktop library, and a responsive mobile site covered everyone else.
Alternatives to PokerStars
The natural first stop is Betfair Casino, the Flutter sister brand that now hosts the transferred products. Poker there runs as PokerStars on Betfair, so the tables, tournaments and account you knew carry on under the Betfair licence.
Sky Vegas Casino is another Flutter sister site with a slots and casino focus and an active UKGC licence. Paddy Power Casino, also part of the group, has a PokerStars poker integration announced for later in 2026.
Beyond the family, you can compare current options in our UK online casinos hub, browse the latest offers in our casino bonuses guide, or see our fast payout casinos page if withdrawal speed matters to you.
Our Review Procedure for Closed Casinos
We confirmed this migration against three checks. First, the live site: pokerstars.uk no longer accepts new UK registrations and directs UK players to the Betfair platform.
Second, operator communications: Flutter announced the move, and independent reporting confirmed the date and the account transfer process. Third, the UKGC public register, which still lists active licences for both PokerStars (39108) and Betfair (39439).
This page stays online as a record of what PokerStars offered, not as a recommendation.
If the brand or domain relaunches under a new operator, we will re-verify and review it again from scratch, because migrated brands sometimes return under new ownership.
FAQs About PokerStars
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Is PokerStars still open?
No, not for UK players. PokerStars stopped operating as a standalone platform on 13 August 2026, when the product moved to Betfair. The poker tables continue as PokerStars on Betfair, but pokerstars.uk no longer accepts new UK registrations. -
What happened to PokerStars UK?
Flutter Entertainment consolidated its UK products onto the Betfair platform. The PokerStars casino and sportsbook were replaced by Betfair Casino and the Betfair Sportsbook, and the poker product now runs as PokerStars on Betfair. Integrations on Paddy Power and Sky Bet were announced for later in 2026. -
Where can I access my PokerStars account?
On the Betfair platform. Existing UK accounts were transferred automatically, and PokerStars login credentials work on Betfair. Balances, T-Money and active tournament tickets carried over intact. -
Is my PokerStars balance safe?
Yes. Balances were transferred to Betfair and are administered under Betfair’s UKGC licence (39439). If you cannot reach your account, contact the operator using the email address tied to the account. -
Can I get my money back from PokerStars?
Your balance is now held on the Betfair platform, so withdrawals are made there. If a withdrawal is refused or delayed, complain to the operator first, then to the ADR provider named in the original terms; IBAS handles UK-licensed brands. -
Is the PokerStars website safe to use?
The official pokerstars.uk domain no longer accepts new UK players. If a site presents itself as PokerStars and invites new UK registrations, verify the operator on the UKGC public register before depositing, as domains tied to departed brands can pass to unrelated owners. -
Where can I play instead of PokerStars?
Betfair Casino is the direct destination, as it now hosts the PokerStars poker product alongside its own casino. Sky Vegas Casino and Paddy Power Casino are the other open Flutter sister sites, and our UK online casinos hub lists current alternatives.
