Lex Veldhuis Ends PokerStars Partnership After 17 Years and Resumes Online Play

mauritz-altikardes
By Mauritz Altikardes
04 Jan 2026
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Mauritz Altikardes 04 Jan 2026
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  • Lex Veldhuis ends 17-year PokerStars association, starts fresh on GGPoker.
  • Returns to online tournaments, wins $2,541 in first GGPoker session.
  • Chooses to play as a free agent without a sponsorship treaty.
Lex Pokerstars
Lex, former Pokerstars Ambassador, now a free agent.
Lex Veldhuis has ended his 17 year ambassador relationship with PokerStars and returned to online poker. 

The online poker landscape has opened 2026 with a notable shift involving one of its longest tenured ambassadors. 

Lex Veldhuis has officially ended his relationship with PokerStars after 17 years and has returned to online tournament play on a different site. The move closes one of the longest continuous ambassador partnerships in online poker history.

Veldhuis Confirms PokerStars Departure on Twitch

Veldhuis confirmed the end of his PokerStars partnership on January 3, 2026, during his first poker focused Twitch stream in several months. He did not provide detailed reasons for the split, describing the decision as part of a broader personal reset.

During most of 2025, Veldhuis stepped away from regular multi table tournaments and poker streaming. His Twitch channel instead featured a variety of content, including games such as Zelda and League of Legends. The shift marked a pause from the format that originally built his audience.


Switch to GGPoker and Return to Online Tournaments

Following the announcement, Veldhuis immediately resumed online poker sessions on GGPoker. He is now playing from the Netherlands, where he is based.

An automated message in his Twitch chat confirms that he is not sponsored by any poker operator and is currently playing only on GGPoker. The platform change also resolves a long standing regulatory issue. 

Dutch regulations previously required Veldhuis to travel to Belgium in order to play on PokerStars. GGPoker allows him to play legally from within the Netherlands.

First Session Produces Immediate Result

Veldhuis showed little sign of inactivity during his first session back at the tables. He won the $108 Bounty Hunters Special tournament on GGPoker, earning approximately $2,541. The result reinforced his reputation as a reliable online tournament performer despite a reduced poker schedule over the past year.

Speculation around a potential sponsorship agreement quickly followed his platform switch. GGPoker has a history of signing high profile professionals and streamers. 

Veldhuis addressed the subject directly on stream, stating that moving straight into another long term deal was not his focus.

For now, he has positioned himself as a free agent, choosing to play without an active sponsorship agreement.

GGPoker Activity in January 2026

Veldhuis returns to online play during a busy month for GGPoker. The platform is running January promotions that reportedly include $20 million in guaranteed giveaways. This schedule also includes the Winter Series, which features multiple large guaranteed tournaments.

GGPoker is also preparing to launch its new loyalty system, Ocean Rewards, on January 30. The program will replace Fish Buffet and is promoted as a revised cashback structure. New players can register using the GGPoker bonus code HEAVEN to access a welcome bonus of up to $600.

Chris Moneymaker Comment Draws Attention

After Veldhuis shared his announcement on X, Chris Moneymaker commented that he had also spent around 17 years as a PokerStars ambassador before moving to another platform. The remark prompted a sharp response from Veldhuis, which drew further attention within the poker community.

With his PokerStars chapter now closed, Veldhuis has returned to online poker streaming and tournament play, beginning the next phase of his career without an ambassador logo attached.
Lex on X

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