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How EvenBet is Reimagining Poker for the Digital Generation
Ahead of the AffPapa Conference Madrid this May, where EvenBet Gaming CEO Dmitry Starostenkov will speak about poker’s comeback, he discussed how the game is evolving and how a company takes a century-old classic and make it the go-to entertainment for a generation that lives in vertical video and instant rewards.
Dmitry, the title “Not Your Grandfather’s Game” suggests a radical departure. What is the biggest “legacy” feature of poker that you’ve had to kill to stay relevant?
The “Wait.” Traditional poker is 70% waiting. For the digital generation, waiting is a bounce metric. We didn’t kill the game, but we killed the downtime. Through ultra-fast formats, “All-in or Fold” mechanics, and integrated side-games, we ensure the player is constantly engaged. If you aren’t in the pot, the platform should still be entertaining you.
EvenBet recently won “Best Online Poker Supplier” at the 2026 European iGaming Awards. What specific innovation for the “Digital Generation” tipped the scales?
Our “Mobile-First, Vertical-Only” philosophy. We realized that Gen Z doesn’t want to rotate their phones to play. They want to play with one hand while doing something else with the other. By optimizing the entire UI for vertical, one-thumb play – including chat, emojis, and betting – we opened the game to a much wider casual audience.
You’ll be touching on the “Poker Renaissance” at the upcoming the AffPapa Conference panel in Madrid. Why is poker specifically “Back” now, rather than slots or crash games?
Because players are craving skill-based social interaction again. After years of solitary slot play, the new generation wants to prove they are smarter than their peers. Poker is the ultimate “Social Strategy” game. We’ve just updated the “wrapper” to make it look and feel like the apps they already use daily.
How do you balance “Fun” (Gamification) with “Fairness” (RNG) without making the game feel like a toy?
You keep the deck sacred but make the environment “loud.” We use avatars, throwable objects, and voice-chat to create a party atmosphere. However, the core engine remains a battle of skill. We’ve seen that Gen Z values transparency; they don’t mind losing if the experience was immersive and they can see the “Proof of Shuffle” on the backend.
Source: iGaming Trends 2026: The Shift to Immersive Personalization
What is the most misunderstood part of “Gamification” in the B2B space?
People think it’s just about adding badges. Real gamification is about progression. Our platform treats a poker career like an RPG – you gain experience, unlock new environments, and complete “Smart Missions.” This drives a 30% higher retention rate than traditional rakeback-only models.
Speaking of the AffPapa Conference Madrid, that event is heavily focused on affiliates. How should they be “selling” poker to their audiences in 2026?
Stop promoting the “Professional Grinder” dream. That’s for the grandfather generation. Sell the “Private Club” and the “Streamer Experience.” Promote poker as a community event. Influencers and streamers are the new gateways; they don’t show the math – they show the fun and the rivalry.
US and Latin American markets are currently booming. Does your “Digital Generation” approach work universally, or are there regional tweaks?
The psychology is universal: everyone wants speed and social proof. However, the technology varies. In the US, compliance is everything, so gamification must be “Regulatory-Safe.” In LatAm, mobile optimization for lower-bandwidth areas is the priority. Our modular engine allows us to toggle these features per region.
Source: Global iGaming Market Report 2026
One final thought: If you had to describe the “EvenBet Poker” of 2026 in one sentence, what would it be?
It’s a high-performance social network where the “likes” are replaced by chips.
We’ll see you on the panel in Madrid. What’s the one question you hope someone asks you there?
I hope they ask: “Is poker still a skill game?” My answer will be: “It’s the only skill game that can scale like a video game.” Actually, it would be great to expand on this topic right now, but I don’t want to reveal all our “secrets” and deepest insights ahead of time. I’m saving the most interesting details for the panel in Madrid to ensure the discussion is truly captivating. However, I’d be more than happy to share them with you personally. Feel free to message me, and we can discuss the future of poker before the summit even begins. I’m confident the panel will be very intense, and I’d like to leave a bit of healthy suspense until we meet.
Reimagining a classic is often more difficult than inventing something new. As Dmitry Starostenkov notes, the key to EvenBet’s success is respecting the core mechanics of poker while completely overhauling the user experience. As the industry gathers in Madrid this May for the AffPapa Conference, the focus will clearly be on this “New Generation” – a cohort that values interaction, transparency, and speed above all else.
Want to see how EvenBet is leading the Poker Renaissance? Discover their 2026 award-winning platform or meet the team at the AffPapa Conference Madrid.
AffPapa is happy to welcome EvenBet Gaming as a Standard Sponsor for iGaming Club Lisbon 2025.EvenBet is an international online poker software development company....
