PokerStars is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the iconic Sunday Storm with a phased tournament, featuring a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

For just an $11 buy-in, players can jump into this special anniversary edition of one of online poker’s most popular tournaments, which continues to stand as a must-play event for players of all levels.

For the past 15 years, the Sunday Storm has been a Sunday staple for poker players worldwide, attracting huge fields and delivering massive guaranteed prize pools, along with unforgettable moments for everyone from casual weekend players to seasoned grinders pursuing a major online score.

To mark its 15th anniversary, the first Phase of the Sunday Storm tournament kicked off on Friday, April 17. With Phase 1s running daily over three action-packed weeks until Sunday, May 10, players have multiple opportunities to join the action now and secure their place in the final stage, Phase 2, on Sunday, May 10, where all returning players will already be in the money.

The Phased format allows players to enter multiple Phase 1 events, cash along the way, and progress at their own pace, offering greater flexibility and making it easier to fit participation around daily schedules while preserving the thrill and prestige of this iconic event. Players can also qualify for less via satellites starting from just $0.55.

In addition, the $300,000 guaranteed Sunday Storm 15th Anniversary Ticket Machine will run from Friday, April 24 to Saturday, May 9, offering players the chance to earn Phase 1 tickets by competing in various daily challenges, such as playing Phase 1 events and knocking out players, with up to three ticket machine entries available per player per day. The more players play, the greater their chances of winning Phase 1 tickets, with daily draws awarding $11 Sunday Storm Anniversary tickets at 00:05 ET.

For more information about the Sunday Storm 15th Anniversary and Phase 1 schedule, go to the PokerStars Blog.

Defy the Odds (DTO) and BettingStartups have announced a strategic partnership aimed at supporting early-stage companies across iGaming and sports betting, with initial joint activity planned around SBC Summit Americas (June 9–11) in Fort Lauderdale.

DTO, which describes itself as a startup launchpad advising early-stage founders in iGaming, sports betting, sportstech and fintech, will work with BettingStartups, which focuses on the early-stage real money gaming ecosystem, to connect startups with investors, operators and established suppliers.

The organisations said the partnership will focus on improving access to three areas they view as critical for founders: community, collaboration and capital. The companies positioned the effort as a way to increase visibility for emerging businesses, support investor-readiness, and expand introductions between startups and industry stakeholders.

Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds said of the partnership, “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when founders connect, share ideas and push each other forward. That’s what community does. This partnership with BettingStartups is about bringing more startups together and making sure the wider industry pays attention to what they’re building. Because the future of our industry is being shaped by these founders.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, adds “We’ve always been about providing high-signal infrastructure for founders to scale. This partnership with DTO doubles down on that mission, linking our audience with a community that actually opens doors. Starting with the Startup Zone at SBC Americas, we’re giving founders a direct, affordable line to the operators and investors who define this industry.”