Patrick Leonard has a pointed take on PokerStars' US market strategy: using iPoker software for its American sites was a missed opportunity, and Stars should have dusted off the Full Tilt client it purchased over a decade ago instead. The high-stakes tournament pro and CoinPoker ambassador posted the observation on X, calling the timing 'PERFECT' for a Full Tilt revival and predicting it would have generated significant new traffic.
It would be PERFECT time to use the full tilt software they bought a decade ago. Would get them so much new traffic too. Bring back the 45 man sngs with the full tilt software
Patrick Leonard (@padspoker)
Interesting that stars have to use ipoker software for their US sites. It would be PERFECT time to use the full tilt software they bought a decade ago. Would get them so much new traffic too. Bring back the 45 man sngs with the full tilt software 🚀🚀🚀🚀 https://t.co/jkdHs5CviF
Leonard's argument is grounded in brand nostalgia. Full Tilt Poker was one of the most popular online poker platforms in the world before its 2011 collapse, and its software - with its distinctive interface and features like the 45-man sit-and-gos Leonard specifically mentioned - had a devoted player base. PokerStars acquired Full Tilt's assets in 2012 as part of the US Department of Justice settlement process, but the Full Tilt brand was eventually wound down rather than relaunched.
The decision to license iPoker software for Stars' US operations instead has drawn mixed reactions from the poker community. For players who remember Full Tilt's heyday, the idea of reviving that client with the backing of PokerStars' current player pool carries obvious appeal. Leonard's post captured that sentiment precisely: 'Bring back the 45 man sngs with the full tilt software,' he wrote.
Whether PokerStars had meaningful access to the Full Tilt codebase, or whether legal and technical constraints made the iPoker route the only realistic option, is not clear from the outside. The Full Tilt domain and brand rights passed through several hands after the original company's closure, complicating any straightforward relaunch.
Leonard is an active voice in online poker discussions, particularly on software quality and the economics of high-volume play. His ROI commentary on rake, staff fees, and expenses in a separate recent post suggests he is actively thinking through the structural costs of competitive online play - and watching how major platforms position themselves in newly regulated US markets with interest.