Few industries evolve as quickly as online poker. Platforms launch, expand, merge or disappear entirely as the landscape shifts. Surviving for 25 years in that environment is no small achievement, something ACR Poker celebrates this year.

Launched in 2001 as part of the Winning Poker Network, ACR has survived waves of regulation, technological change and intense competition. Many operators have come and gone during that time, but ACR has continued to expand its player base and tournament offerings, carving out a distinct identity within the online poker ecosystem.

Today the company is led by CEO Phil Nagy, saying this year;

 “25 more years, YES!”.

He is a familiar figure to many players who follow the online poker world. Unlike many executives who remain largely behind the curtain, Nagy has taken a public-facing role, regularly interacting with the poker community and addressing players directly. Behind him sits a large team that now spans developers, tournament staff, ambassadors, professional players and a growing roster of streamers and content creators known internally as Stormers.

Chris Moneymaker officially joined the brand in 2021 as a sponsored professional and ambassador, bringing his World Series of Poker legacy to promote the platform through branded tournaments, marketing campaigns, and player engagement. Speaking about the company’s revamped tournament schedule with bigger tournaments and guarantees, he said;

“ACR Poker has listened to players and tailored its schedule to offer a poker experience that works for everyone.”

Where ACR has really made its mark is in its embrace of cryptocurrency. The platform now operates as the largest crypto-taking poker site in the world, offering players the ability to deposit and withdraw using digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. That focus has helped ACR build a reputation for something every poker player values, fast payouts. In an industry where withdrawals can sometimes take days or even weeks, speed and reliability have become a major part of the platform’s appeal.

But poker players are ultimately drawn by one thing above all else: big prize pools. And this is where ACR has doubled down. The site’s flagship event, The Venom, has become one of the most prestigious online tournaments in the world. With guarantees reaching a staggering $12.5 million, it regularly produces life-changing tales and attracts thousands of competitors from across the globe.

ACR also made headlines in 2019 when The Venom set a Guinness World Record for the largest cryptocurrency payout in an online poker tournament. The winner walked away with more than $1,050,560 in Bitcoin, marking a historic moment at the intersection of poker and digital finance.

Massive online festival series the OSS XL regularly features guarantees reaching $50 million, spreading prize pools across hundreds of events and giving players of all bankroll levels a shot at serious money.

In 2025, ACR made headlines in the Bahamas by teaming up with WSOP and GGPoker to organise a spectacular drone show above the Atlantis resort, marking a first for the poker industry.

ACR has also leaned heavily into the modern poker ecosystem of streaming, content creation and social media. Its network of ambassadors, professional players and Stormers helps keep the brand visible across platforms while connecting directly with the online poker community. In an era where poker content is consumed as much as it is played, that visibility has become an important part of the platform’s growth.

The company continues to focus on expanding tournament guarantees, maintaining a safe playing environment and delivering quick, reliable payouts to players around the world.

Twenty-five years after launching, ACR Poker has proven it can adapt to an industry that rarely stands still. With crypto integration, massive tournaments and a growing global player base, the platform remains one of the key players shaping what the future of online poker looks like.