Dmitry Starostenkov, EvenBet Gaming: “You can’t have a poker game without a community”

Shows & conferences - 21 October, 2025

The evolving world of online poker was under the spotlight at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, where Focus Gaming News sat down with Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, to discuss market expansion, changing player demographics, and the future of the vertical.

Starostenkov confirmed a significant push into Africa, highlighted by a recent launch with Hollywoodbets and upcoming partnerships with other major operators in South Africa. He sees the continent as a new open market for poker, with strong potential not only in South Africa but also in emerging countries like Nigeria and Kenya.

Discussing the broader poker landscape, Starostenkov noted a significant shift in player motivation. He explained that it is becoming harder for professionals to make a living from the game, and a new, younger generation is approaching poker differently. “Younger generations are focused more on the entertainment side, and they want higher gambling activity and more social interaction,” he said.

To cater to this new audience, EvenBet’s strategy is to blend the best practices of social casinos with real money gaming to create a smoother and more engaging player journey. A key part of this is the development of a new, lighter version of poker. Starostenkov described this as a product where “players can quickly start playing, they can get in and out more in a TikTok style engagement.” This is designed to help sports betting and casino operators better engage their players and increase retention, acknowledging that poker is now predominantly part of a larger gaming ecosystem rather than a standalone product.

To solve the critical issue of liquidity, Starostenkov highlighted the growth of the EvenBet Poker Network, which has matured into a robust product with a strong tournament schedule and good guarantee prizes, offering operators a full-featured vertical. This growth is reflected in the company’s overall performance, with the CEO revealing that EvenBet has doubled its headcount to 250 people and doubled its revenue in the last two years, now serving over 200 clients worldwide with an annual revenue of more than €20m.