Playtech announced that its iPoker network is in North America for the first time through the recent launch of PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel. Playtech’s iPoker platform is now powering poker games for FanDuel customers in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. FanDuel is Playtech’s first poker licensee in the North American market, marking a milestone expansion of Playtech’s poker technology across regulated markets in the US and Canada.

Playtech’s iPoker network is one of the industry’s most established and trusted platforms. Bringing the network to North America in partnership with FanDuel – one of the country’s leading operators, reinforces the upward trajectory of Playtech’s broader North American growth strategy.

Marat Koss, Chief Interactive Gaming Officer at Playtech, said: “Debuting our industry-leading iPoker platform in North America with a valued partner like FanDuel is a defining moment for Playtech’s North American expansion. We’re immensely proud to bring our poker platform to three major regulated markets and support FanDuel in their mission to deliver a top-tier poker experience to players.”

The World Series of Poker (WSOP), the longest-running and most prestigious poker tournament series in the world, announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the Solana Foundation to bring cryptocurrency directly into the global poker experience.

This will be the first time in WSOP history where players can purchase tickets to tournaments directly with cryptocurrency, and by leveraging Solana’s technology, this payment method will have zero processing fees.

The integration will expand further at the 2026 WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas this December, where tournament winners can receive settlements in stablecoins on Solana, enabling near-instant access to payments and reducing the friction traditionally associated with international tournament settlements.

As part of this collaboration, Solana Foundation will also serve as the official Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 World Series of Poker and 2026 World Series of Poker Paradise.

The World Series of Poker, Dealt by Solana

The poker community has long been at the forefront of cryptocurrency adoption, with players embracing decentralized technology, like Solana, for its efficiency and transparency. As a high-performance blockchain, Solana is celebrated for its industry-leading transaction speeds – capable of processing thousands of transactions per second – and ultra-low costs, with average fees remaining below $0.001. By enabling players to make purchases through Moonpay, and cashout in stablecoins on Solana, these initiatives allow:

• Faster settlement and streamlined payment processing for eligible events

• Greater accessibility for international players traveling to WSOP events

• Near-instant global settlement, with reduced friction for users

• Expanded payment flexibility for players participating in marquee tournaments worldwide

Introducing Solana-powered purchases and settlements modernizes how money moves through the poker ecosystem and reduces friction for players around the world.

Where Poker and Cryptocurrency Converge

This initiative bridges the digital space and the poker world, reinforcing the growing demand among players for faster financial tools that simplify participation in global events. Beyond payments, the collaboration brings together communities that are closely aligned.

“We are incredibly proud to bring such an innovative and passionate community into the fold. Solana’s ecosystem, like the WSOP, constantly challenges conventions and remains laser-focused on the consumer experience. Solana’s speed and efficiency mirror the fast-paced energy of our tournaments, and we are excited to showcase their technology to our global audience,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP.

“Solana is a digital economy where people can own and trade millions of assets, make payments, earn on their money, and more. Trading in particular has been a huge area of growth on Solana over the last few years, generating over $4 trillion in volume. At its core, trading shares many of the same characteristics as poker: hard decisions, incomplete information, minding your bankroll. We’re incredibly excited to grow the game of poker with the WSOP and bring these two worlds together,” said Vibhu Norby, Chief Product Officer, Solana Foundation.

“Poker players have always lived at the forefront of innovation. They think in probabilities, move fast, and adopt the tools that give them an edge. Cryptocurrency is a natural fit. By powering purchases and settlements through MoonPay on Solana, we’re meeting that demand directly: faster, borderless payments that make it simple for players anywhere to take their seat at the world’s biggest tables,” said Jim Walker, President of MoonPay Commerce.

Beyond the Felt: Ambassadors and Hospitality

The Solana Foundation is set to sponsor a select group of individual poker player ambassadors who will represent the ecosystem at this summer’s WSOP event. Additionally, the Solana ecosystem will host exclusive hospitality events at the Paris and Horseshoe venues in Las Vegas, as well as a premier experience during WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas this winter. Solana users can also look forward to collaborative onchain poker products, developed with WSOP, to follow.