Gaming & Esports

Lex Veldhuis Ends 17‑Year PokerStars Deal, Signs with GGPoker

By Adam Hampton

Dutch streamer Lex Veldhuis, who began his career as an esports player, has ended a 17‑year partnership with PokerStars and signed a new deal with GGPoker. Veldhuis moved his family from the Netherlands to Costa Rica in 2026 and has been streaming online poker from his new home. He recently won his first GGPoker title, taking $68,000 in the $5,250 Bounty Hunters Main Event. Veldhuis said he was impressed by GGPoker’s software and tournament size, and that the company’s vision and drive to innovate attracted him. He also hinted at a desire to play more live poker. With GGPoker and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) sharing ownership, Veldhuis’s new partnership raises the possibility of him appearing at the upcoming WSOP Paradise series in the Bahamas, which runs from December 2‑17. He has hosted live community meet‑ups under the “Lex Live” banner and is known for his charismatic on‑camera presence. The move comes as GGPoker’s presence grows in the live‑event arena, where players such as Daniel Negreanu and Michael Mizrachi are already involved. Images courtesy of Twitchmetrics.net/Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.