PokerStars Revamps Spin & Go Max: Higher Jackpots and Faster Starts

Cleaner Buy-Ins, Bigger Jackpots

In one of the more straightforward adjustments, Spin & Go Max buy-ins are now aligned with regular Spin & Go levels. Previously, the Max variant had its own set of odd buy-in tiers, but moving forward, players can choose from $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, and $50—the same as in the standard Spin & Go lobby.

What’s not so standard, however, are the prizes.

The top jackpot multiplier has jumped to 25,000x, up from 10,000x. While still a rare occurrence, it’s a clear attempt to restore some magic to the format’s high-end potential. Meanwhile, low multipliers have also been tuned to feel less underwhelming—a long-standing complaint from frequent players.

Payouts Get a Makeover

Players had two recurring concerns with the original payout model: low multipliers felt too common, and the games with higher prizes didn’t come around enough to be realistic targets.

PokerStars has responded by simplifying the pay tables—fewer tiers, a better balance between odds and rewards, and notably better prize pools for 4- to 8-player games, where the Max format really shines.

In practical terms, this means that even in the more common low-multiplier games, the prizes are set to be more meaningful — an attempt to boost long-term engagement rather than just focus on once-in-a-blue-moon scores.

No More All-In Mode

This is the biggest structural change: All-In Mode is gone. For years, Spin & Go Max games came with a hand limit. Once the countdown hit zero, every player was forced all-in until a winner emerged. It created drama—but also plenty of frustration, especially when stacks were deep or players felt they were just starting to get an edge.

That mechanic has now been scrapped entirely. Games will play out normally until there’s a winner, giving players more control over how they navigate the late stages.

To balance the removal of this fast-forward element, PokerStars has also adjusted the blind structure and starting stacks.

New Stack Sizes and Blind Timers

With more time to play each hand, it only made sense to increase starting stacks — Spin & Go Max tournaments now begin with 1,000 chips instead of 500.

Blinds now increase based on time rather than number of hands, a shift that matches standard tournament pacing more closely. The tempo will still depend on the prize pool multiplier: smaller jackpots will have quicker blind escalations, while games with more money on the line will slow things down to allow more play

Shorter Waits, Tighter Player Ranges

Another subtle but significant fix: adjustments to the player draw ranges. Games at lower buy-ins ($1–$5) will continue to draw between 3 and 8 players randomly, but higher-stakes games will now have narrower ranges:

• $10–$25: 3–6 players
• $50: 3–5 players

The goal here is to reduce lobby wait times — something that’s become more of a problem in recent years, particularly at higher buy-ins.

In short: Spin & Go Max

PokerStars hasn’t just added a higher jackpot multiplier and called it a day. The Spin & Go Max format has been fundamentally redesigned, with more consistent buy-ins, faster starts, smoother structures, and a real chance at meaningful payouts —e ven outside the top prize tier.

Players can already find the new format live in the PokerStars client under the updated Spin & Go Max tab. Whether the changes are enough to breathe long-term life back into the format remains to be seen—but they certainly make for a more playable version of what had become one of the most divisive offerings in the Spin family.