Online poker has always been shaped by technology. In 2025, AI is now a big part of the conversation. Here is how poker software has changed, where AI sits now, and what it means for players and the platforms they use.
The New Tools Players Use
In mid-2025, AI poker tools have more options and features than before. GTO Wizard and PioSOLVER, which help players learn and analyze hands using theory-based strategies, pushed new updates in the last quarter. The latest features allow for real-time hand reviews and scenario breakdowns. Some tools now offer on-the-fly coaching, giving feedback as hands play out.
Training applications are nearly as common as traditional software. Market reports show steady growth in paid subscribers since 2024. More tools also cater to mixed games, not only no-limit hold ’em.
Performance Data You Can Check
Bots running AI decision trees have continued to improve against both regular and elite human opponents. As of this year, independent studies and online results tables suggest several bots can match or outplay average players in certain cash game types. When pitted against top professionals, though, bots still show uneven results, winning some matches while losing others by small margins.
Peer-reviewed papers from 2024 and 2025 show that modern training programs often teach better bet sizing and more precise hand selection. Industry analysts also track pinpoint changes in the gap between human and AI-trained moves. When pressed to play at high volumes or over long sessions, AI-driven bots maintain consistent outcomes, while human results tend to vary more.
Comparing AI Tools Across Online Poker Platforms
Different online poker sites now take unique approaches when it comes to AI and assistive technology. For instance, PokerStars and GGPoker both launched fresh anti-AI measures in 2025, while some platforms focus on real-time coaching tools that claim to work within their game interfaces. Along with the newer updates to AI tools like tracking software and training applications, these changes mean each site carries its own mix of rules and tools.
Players who use online poker for real money, heads-up HUDs, or even training libraries have to pay close attention. The rules and detection rates can change without much notice, leading to new questions about fairness and tool use on different platforms.
Where the Line Gets Drawn
Regulators spent much of 2025 debating new restrictions on in-game assistance and data scraping. Some countries updated their gambling laws. Sites released new statements about detection rates and the penalties for those found using forbidden programs. PokerStars and GGPoker state they now monitor game patterns and suspicious statistics in real time. Some platforms also use machine learning to spot and block suspect sessions.
Industry reports point to conflicting legal standards across regions. In one country, training software may stay legal, while another bans it outright once used alongside live games.
Real-World Impact
Tournament data and user surveys show that AI tools do not only affect how professionals play. More new players try tools that offer free hands or basic tracking. Paid subscriptions for advanced functions, like instant game theory analysis, have increased year over year. In surveys of active accounts, roughly half of high-stakes regulars now report using some form of AI review before or after sessions.
Comment sections on poker forums point to disputes. Some players call assistance tools “cheating,” while others say everyone has a fair chance as long as rules are clear. Large events, such as the 2025 WSOP, reported a handful of high-profile incidents where suspected tool use triggered reviews or penalties. Those cases received public attention and led to more open discussion about security and fairness.
What AI Costs Now
Top-end AI tools have subscriptions that cost from $20 to over $100 per month. Some lock key features behind higher pricing tiers, such as multi-table feedback or pooled training data. Leading software companies now update their pricing to reflect changes in game types, study materials, and real-time support. Free options still exist, but the gap in features is easy to spot.
The Skill Gap and What Comes Next
Evidence from recent tournaments and published skill tests show that players who rely on advanced AI review and coaching can close the gap with some professionals. Analysts expect this difference to narrow even more as more precise and affordable tools roll out by 2026. Still, current data also points out that some high-level decisions escape automation, so top players keep small but clear leads.
Industry forecasts predict that AI poker assistance will keep growing in the next few years. Sources forecast better multi-player support, enhanced detection methods from poker sites, and stronger legal guardrails for both sides.
Final Thoughts
The practical use of AI in online poker is growing, with new tech emerging every year. Tools and detection methods shift quickly, so players and sites both watch for updates. AI’s presence now shows up not only in theory but in tactics across real-money games and tournaments. The next steps will come from new tools, site rules, and how much AI helps or hurts the edge players are seeking.
Explore Textify’s AI membership
Need Data? Explore AI Search Engine for Data Lovers
Explore insights with Textify Analytics