We're excited to share some big news about the future of poker at Betfair.
From 13th August, we'll be upgrading your experience by bringing the world's most recognised and trusted poker brand, PokerStars, to Betfair.
Welcome to PokerStars on Betfair. Two experts in their game, one smarter way to play.
In this article:
What is PokerStars on Betfair and what does this mean for me?
What happens if I am based in Ireland?
What has happened to my nickname? How do I set a new one?
What is PokerStars on Betfair and what does this mean for me?
Big improvements are coming to Betfair Poker. Soon, it will be powered by the technology behind the world's most recognised poker brand, PokerStars, bringing you a faster, smoother and more rewarding way to play.
You will have access to:
- More players, more action and a smoother, faster platform
- More games running around the clock
- Premium online and live global poker events
- Major tournaments like WCOOP and The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary
- All-In poker leaderboards
- A brand-new loyalty programme, coming soon
What happens if I am based in Ireland?
Betfair Poker will be closing on 13th August 2026 and PokerStars on Betfair will not be accessible in Ireland. To play, you can open an account at pokerstars.com.
How do I download PokerStars on Betfair on Desktop?
When you log in for the first time, you'll no longer be able to use the existing Betfair Poker desktop app. Instead, you'll be prompted to download and install PokerStars on Betfair before you can log in and play. The new desktop app is available for both Windows and macOS.
Once installed, a new desktop app will be added to your computer. You can log in with your existing Betfair username and password to access your account and begin playing.
How do I download the PokerStars on Betfair mobile app?
You'll be prompted to download the new PokerStars on Betfair app before you can continue playing. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version and log in using your existing username and password to access your account and begin playing.
How do I switch my language back to English in the Poker Client?
We're currently making improvements to the language settings in the client. In the meantime, you can use the below steps to switch your language back to English.
This is a temporary workaround and once resolved, you'll be able to switch languages normally in the client settings.
For Windows users
- Make sure the client is closed.
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
- Open the Betfair.UK folder.
- Open the user.ini file.
- Find the line that starts with Locale= (it may already have a number or code after it).
- Replace whatever comes after Locale= with 1, so the line reads Locale=1.
- Save the file.
- Close the file and reopen the poker client.
For Mac users
- Make sure the client is closed.
- Open Finder.
- Press Shift + Command + G, paste the following path, and press Enter:
~/Library/Preferences/com.betfair.uk.user.ini - Open the file with TextEdit.
- Find the line that starts with Locale= (it may already have a number or code after it).
- Replace whatever comes after Locale= with 1, so the line reads Locale=1.
- Before saving, check the Format menu - if it shows an option like "Make Plain Text," select it. Saving in Rich Text format can corrupt the file.
- Press Command + S to save.
- Close the file and reopen the poker client.
What details do I use to Log In?
You can use your existing Betfair username and password to access PokerStars on Betfair.
What happens if I have a Betfair and a PokerStars account?
There are no issues if you have an account with both PokerStars and Betfair, but you will not be able to play Poker on both accounts at the same time. For the most seamless experience, we suggest you use your Betfair account to play on PokerStars.
What has happened to my nickname? How do I set a new one?
You may be prompted to make a new nickname before you can begin playing on PokerStars on Betfair. Make sure you're happy with the one you choose because you won't be able to change it.
Why do I only have 1 wallet now?
Your poker wallet will automatically be combined to your single Betfair wallet, making it easier to view and manage your balance across all Betfair products.
Following the closure of Betfair Poker, all cash balances held within your Poker Wallet will be transferred to your main Betfair Wallet within 3 working days. This means you will have one wallet that can be used across all Betfair products going forward.
If you need more details, including what payment methods we accept, see our article here.
What happens with the Foreign Exchange Conversion?
Currency conversion will happen automatically whenever you buy into or cash out of any PokerStars poker tables. You won't be able to choose when currency conversion takes place. You may notice small differences in your balance due to repeated conversions and rounding. These differences are typically the equivalent of a few pence.
When you buy into or cash out of a poker table, you'll see a Currency Exchange rate message within the product. This will show the exchange rate being applied and ask you to confirm the currency conversion before continuing.
Will my funds be safe during the upgrade?
Yes. Your money will be transferred automatically from your poker wallet to your single Betfair wallet. It can take up to 3 working days for our Payments team to complete this task for all our players.
There is no need to take any action unless we contact you.
What happens to any bonus I am owed?
Following the closure of Betfair Poker, all your cash balances held within your Poker Wallet will automatically be transferred to your main Betfair Wallet within 3 working days. Your cash value of any pending tokens or loyalty bonuses will also be credited.
What happens if I have a pending deposit during the upgrade to PokerStars on Betfair?
If you are moving money between your Poker wallet and your main Betfair wallet during the upgrade, we will handle any incomplete transfers. Any balance in your Poker wallet will be automatically transferred to main Betfair wallet within 3 working days.
Where do I find my available promotions?
To find promotions that you are eligible for, visit your Challenges Hub for your poker promotions or your Promotions Hub for Betfair Casino or Betfair Sports promotions. To opt in to a promotion, click into the relevant promotion and follow the steps on screen.
We also share exiting promotions through marketing channels such as email. To opt into these, you can update your marketing preferences in the My Details section of your account here.
What promotions do PokerStars on Betfair have?
PokerStars on Betfair will have premium online and live global poker events, major tournaments like WCOOP and The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary and All-In poker leaderboards. If you're used to playing on PokerStars, your new experience will feel very familiar on Betfair.
Betfair Casino will also offer additional promotions, features and ways to play, which you can explore once you start using the Betfair Casino experience.
How does the new Loyalty Programme work?
We are giving our new Loyalty Programme a facelift. Watch this space, we will provide an update soon.
How do I navigate the menus?
You may notice that the account menu structure has changed.
The new Betfair layout provides a different way to access your account management and Safer Gambling settings. While it may look unfamiliar at first, the updated design is intended to make it easier and more intuitive to find the options you need.
What will happen to tournaments and poker tables during the upgrade?
To minimise disruption to you, our schedules will gradually wind down to ensure you don't get caught up in a tournament during the upgrade.
If you are seated in a cash game at the time of closure you will automatically be stood up, your stacks will remain fully protected and your cash balance will be returned.
New tournaments and games will become available when the upgrade is complete.
Looking for your poker playing history (hands, tournaments etc.)?
You'll be able to find that in the poker client (Mac and Windows) under the tools menu:
For the poker app you can find it under the account menu:
In the poker web app you can find it under the account menu:
Why am I seeing a maintenance message?
If you try to access poker during the upgrade, you may see a maintenance message instead of the poker lobby. This is expected while essential work is being completed. Once the maintenance period has ended, you'll be able to download our new platforms, log in and play as normal.
What Safer Gambling tools are available?
We offer a variety of Safer Gambling tools, information about the tools we offer can be found here.
If you would like to find out more about Safer Gambling on Betfair, see our Safer Gambling Category here.