The Sunday Million Shift: PokerStars' Summer Strategy
PokerStars adjusts its Sunday Million tournament, replacing it with Jet Set Season this summer.
Prepare for some shake-ups in the world of online poker, as PokerStars' flagship tournament, the Sunday Million, is taking a pause this summer. The iconic tourney, which has been a staple for nearly two decades on the PokerStars.com platform, will be MIA on certain Sundays in the coming weeks. Instead, expect alternative events or phased formats to take the spotlight.
Our sources at Poker Industry PRO learned the news in an exclusive, with a PokerStars spokesperson revealing that this move is part of a broader summer strategy focused on catering to a more casual and seasonal player base.
"We've dialed back a few of the bigger Sunday staples for the summer," said the spokesperson. "It's usually a quieter time online with so many live events on and people taking holidays. The new schedule is just a better fit for that more casual, seasonal vibe."
The Sunday Million's temporary hiatus isn't a farewell, though. PokerStars assures players that this beloved tournament isn't going anywhere. "The Sunday Million is one of the most iconic and beloved tournaments in PokerStars - and online poker history. It helped shape the poker landscape and remains hugely important to us and to our players," a representative told Poker Industry PRO.
A New Season Awaits - The Jet Set Season
This transformation coincides with the launch of the Jet Set Season, a fresh five-week tournament series running from June 8 to July 7. With 27 themed "episodes," the series boasts varied buy-in levels and guarantees surpassing $4 million. Buy-ins range from $3.30 to $1,050.
Out of the five weeks, only two will feature a $1 million guaranteed Sunday Million. The first is a phased edition beginning on June 8 with multiple Day 1 flights spread throughout the week, concluding on June 15 with Phase 2 (the final stage). The second takes place on July 6, when the Sunday Million returns as the Jet Set Season Finale in a progressive knockout format.
Jet Set Season also introduces captivating events like the Super Sunday, featuring a $100,000 guaranteed PKO for just $11, and a high-stakes $1,050 NLHE tournament with a $150,000 prize pool on the same day.
Each Monday during the festival, Mystery Bounty tournaments with rotating formats will take place at 13:05 ET. The series will also showcase special "hosted episodes" with PokerStars Ambassadors. Knocking out the host nets you a $109 ticket to the Jet Set Season Finale, as well as a fun bonus: an exclusive Parker 'tonkaaaa' Talbot-themed throwable.
The Jet Set Season also offers intriguing promotions like the Jet Set Challenge, offering players a chance at $300,000 in tournament tickets, and Jet Set Rush, a casino-poker hybrid with engaging mini-challenges.
So, brace yourself for some new experiences this summer as PokerStars shakes things up with its summer strategy and the much-anticipated Jet Set Season!
- As part of PokerStars' summer strategy, the gambling trend extends beyond poker with the introduction of the Jet Set Season, a tournament series that includes lotteries like the Mystery Bounty tournaments and casino-games such as the Jet Set Rush, a casino-poker hybrid.
- Despite the Sunday Million's temporary pause during the Jet Set Season, casino-games like poker remain a significant part of the schedule, with the Sunday Million reappearing in a progressive knockout format during the final week of the series.