PokerStars on FanDuel Launches Nightly Stars Leaderboard Promotion

PokerStars on FanDuel launched a new weekly Nightly Stars Leaderboard promotion on August 24, 2026, awarding $2,500 per week in tournament tickets to top performers across Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Running for two consecutive weeks through September 5, the competition awards point values based on cash earnings in daily Nightly Stars tournaments. Every dollar earned in qualifying events translates directly into one leaderboard point.

The daily $100 entry tournaments run Monday through Saturday at 6:40 p.m. local time, giving participants six weekly opportunities to accumulate points. The structured prize pool distributes rewards to 74 top-ranked players each week.

The highest weekly performer earns $500 worth of entry tickets, while payout tiers extend down to secondary chance entry tokens for lower rankings.

Awarded standard tickets remain valid for two weeks, while specific Nightly Stars tickets expire after 21 days. Players receiving 2nd Chance All In Shootout entries are automatically registered without requiring active login. The initiative follows recent structural updates to the daily series, including expanded starting chip stacks, prolonged early levels, extended registration windows, and increased guaranteed prize pools.

Alongside promotional expansions, parent operator Flutter continues expanding its behavioral support framework in partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health. The initiative focuses on player education, financial tracking awareness, and early mental health intervention. "FanDuel is continually investing in education, research, partnerships, because we believe in meeting our customers where they are and providing resources that work for them," said Cory Fox, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Sustainability at FanDuel.

The operator provides optional player assessments, peer support, and licensed therapy access through Kindbridge to support player welfare alongside multi-state gaming services. "We understand mental health and gambling can be closely connected, particularly among young men, so expanding access to behavioral health resources was a priority," said Fox. Kindbridge focused on gambling disorders to make professional care accessible across the digital network.

"Kindbridge stood out for its focus on gambling disorder and its commitment to making treatment more accessible," said Fox.

The partnership targets balanced decision-making and financial oversight across active user bases. "We both want to help people maintain a healthy balance," said Daniel Umfleet, founder and CEO of Kindbridge. Umfleet emphasized that monitoring overall player habits remains central to their joint operational goals.

"That includes understanding finances, recognizing spending patterns, and making sure people aren't gambling with money they don't have," said Umfleet.

In March 2026, over 6,000 users completed a voluntary mental health survey structured by Kindbridge. "By encouraging customers to take a step back and consider their play, we aim to normalize proactive thinking regarding responsible gaming and problem gambling," said Fox.

The collaboration also incorporates internal employee education and community outreach programs. "FanDuel doesn't limit themselves to what's happening directly on the platform," said Umfleet.

Umfleet noted that broader dialogue distinguishes the platform's market approach. "They lean into broader, community-oriented conversations. That's a differentiator," said Umfleet. Industry experts view structured operator partnerships as vital mechanisms for consumer protection.

"When a company is as proactive as FanDuel, it sends an important message to regulators and legislators," said Umfleet.

Umfleet highlighted that proactive standards help drive regulatory expectations forward. "Together, we're continuously raising the bar," said Umfleet. The initial leaderboard cycle resets on August 31 for its second scheduled segment through September 5.