PokerStars Celebrates 25 Years with $50M+ Guaranteed Anniversary Series Running May 10 to June 3

PokerStars Turns 25 With Its Biggest Anniversary Tournament Series — $50 Million on the Line

PokerStars, the world's largest online poker platform and a Flutter Entertainment subsidiary, has announced the details of its 25th Anniversary Series, setting a $50 million+ guaranteed prize pool target across a month-long festival running from May 10 to June 3, 2026.

What Happened

The Anniversary Series schedule, confirmed on April 27, 2026, comprises 461 tournaments covering a broad range of formats, stakes, and player types. Buy-ins range from $5.50 for the most accessible events to $15,000 for high-roller satellite and final-table entries, with qualifying tournaments available from $0.55. The headline events are three Main Events scheduled for May 24, with guaranteed prize pools sized for maximum participation across multiple player segments. The series also marks the 15th anniversary of the Sunday Storm, PokerStars' iconic low-stakes weekly tournament — the anniversary edition receives a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool under a Progressive Knockout format at $11 buy-in. PokerStars will additionally distribute more than $650,000 in Lucky Dip tickets to participants during the series as a promotional layer.

Why It Matters

PokerStars' 25th anniversary is a meaningful milestone in the history of online gambling. The platform launched in 2001 and was central to the 2000s poker boom that created an entire generation of online gambling consumers. Its continued ability to run $50M+ guaranteed series — at a time when the online poker market has fragmented significantly due to US market access restrictions, crypto alternatives, and GGPoker's rise as a major competitor — demonstrates the enduring brand strength of the PokerStars name.

Industry Context

The series timing is notable: running through the FIFA World Cup opening weeks (the tournament starts June 11), PokerStars will be competing with sports betting platforms for recreational player attention and wallet share. A $50M+ series provides a compelling alternative engagement product for players who prefer skill-based gambling to sports wagering, and the 461-tournament volume ensures there are entry points at every player level throughout the series window.