UMVA has learned that a groundbreaking partnership between Playtech and FanDuel has brought the iPoker network to North America for the first time, marking a significant expansion into regulated markets in the United States and Canada.
The iPoker platform, now powering poker games offered through the PokerStars-branded product exclusively on FanDuel, has gone live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, as well as Ontario, Canada. This move makes FanDuel the first operator in North America to utilize Playtech's poker technology.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the partnership is a strategic play by Playtech to grow its presence in regulated gaming markets across the region. The rollout follows the successful launch of PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel earlier this year, combining FanDuel's customer base with the PokerStars brand.
This development comes on the heels of FanDuel receiving approval to participate in a multi-state poker network in Michigan, allowing for shared player liquidity across regulated markets. The integration of iPoker into FanDuel's platform enables players to join the same network for tournaments and cash games.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Marat Koss, Chief Interactive Gaming Officer at Playtech, expressed his pride in debuting the iPoker platform in North America with FanDuel, citing the partnership as a defining moment for Playtech's North American expansion.
The agreement adds poker to FanDuel's existing online gaming portfolio and extends the relationship between the two companies. FanDuel customers can now access Playtech's poker infrastructure through a network designed to support larger player pools and tournament offerings.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the deal marks the first deployment of Playtech's iPoker technology in North America, establishing the network's presence in four regulated markets across the region. This strategic partnership is set to shake up the online gaming landscape in North America.
