Dmitry Starostenkov, EvenBet Gaming: “Simplification will be the main trend”

EvenBet Gaming CEO Dmitry Starostenkov analyses the future of online poker as the industry heads into 2026, from market growth and player acquisition strategies to regulatory challenges, product innovation with Spins Poker, and poker’s evolving role within multi-vertical operator ecosystems.

Exclusive Interview.- As online poker continues to redefine its place within the broader igaming ecosystem, operators and suppliers alike are reassessing how the vertical can grow, adapt, and remain relevant across both mature and emerging markets. In this exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, shares his perspective on the key trends shaping online poker in 2026, including regional growth dynamics, player acquisition and retention strategies, regulatory pressure on sweepstakes models, and the role of innovation in product design. He also explains how solutions such as Spins Poker are designed to fit seamlessly into existing operator ecosystems, and why poker continues to represent a powerful diversification tool for igaming and sportsbook operators.

How do you see the evolution of online poker as we enter 2026, both in Europe and elsewhere?

The online poker vertical will grow and evolve, and 2026 will continue the trends we can already see clearly by the end of 2025. In general, industry analysts predict online poker market growth of around 10 per cent year-on-year. In mature markets, the increase will be much lower, while in some emerging countries in Africa or Asia, revenues could realistically jump into triple digits.

We also shouldn’t dismiss the USA, one of the biggest potential poker hubs globally. Progress on regulation and the adoption of interstate shared liquidity is slow, but with Pennsylvania finally joining the agreement in 2025 and Connecticut still on the sidelines, there are real opportunities for online poker operators.

As for trends, online poker will evolve in two main directions. In Europe and the USA, where major poker rooms are long-established, the market may look oversaturated. But for the casual, entertainment audiences of sportsbooks and casinos, poker is still largely undiscovered. As a result, operators will increasingly demand simple, gamified, casino-like poker experiences that appeal to their players. In these markets, simplification will be the main trend.

Meanwhile, in markets that are just opening up to online poker, there’s still room to take the poker-specific niche. Standalone poker rooms and poker networks will emerge and grow, looking for a more professional feel, strong player onboarding and acquisition tools, and deeper player behaviour data.

What are the main opportunities for player acquisition and retention at the moment?

Poker is naturally a strong retention tool: the social and skill-focused nature of the game supports longer player lifetimes and high engagement, as long as the operator understands the audience’s preferences. It has also been shown to improve retention for sportsbooks, with a positive impact on revenues and user lifetime value.

That said, poker operators need to be smart with retention-focused campaigns to maximise results. Simple mechanics like a 100 per cent first deposit bonus or “deposit more – get more bonuses” aren’t always effective once players move past acquisition or initial conversion. Offer a daily login bonus, a strong rakeback program, or competitive leaderboards, and players will come back day after day.

Acquisition opportunities depend heavily on the market, but in general, for poker rooms and networks, building an engaged community around the room – and using influencers and streamers to promote it – are unmatched options that often work even better for poker than for other online gaming verticals. Affiliates can generate up to 90 per cent of poker traffic, so a strong affiliate program with the right incentives is a must.

“Poker operators need to be smart with retention-focused campaigns to maximise results.”

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming.

EvenBet’s Spins Poker brought a new concept to the market. How has this innovative hybrid solution been received?

The initial feedback is very positive: both operators and B2B platforms are interested in adding Spins Poker to their offerings. Our original idea – simplifying Spin & Go tournaments for integration as a self-sufficient product – turned out to be a strong fit for the market.

To be honest, I expected a good reception. While developing this product, we relied on real market data and extensive research into graphics and UI trends. EvenBet Spins Poker isn’t a brand-new format in itself: quickfire tournaments like these have delivered strong results across many markets for years. What’s innovative is our approach to product delivery – how it integrates into existing platform ecosystems, and how it creates a fully casino-like experience within a skill-based, player-to-player game.

2025 was the year that regulators came for sweepstakes. What does the recent regulatory attention mean for sweepstakes poker, and do you still see it as a segment with potential?

Sweepstakes appeared in unsettling headlines more than any other business model in 2025. But new sweepstakes projects are still launching today, and operators are still generating revenue – even after exiting several states. So yes, there is still potential.

Around 75 per cent of states still allow sweepstakes to exist in one form or another, while real-money poker is legal in only nine. There’s clear market demand for online poker and online gaming in general, and until there’s a legal way to play, social, sweepstakes, and potentially new formats will continue to emerge to meet that demand. Blanket bans would only push players toward black-market and offshore sites. The reality is obvious to the industry, but not always to regulators.

Ideally, we’ll see at least some reasonable regulation of sweepstakes activity that protects players and holds operators accountable – or, in the best-case scenario, broader online gaming regulation across more states.

Does poker still represent an opportunity for diversification? What are the main things iGaming and sportsbook operators need to consider?

Yes – and that’s the main role poker can play in multi-vertical operator portfolios. Players who are looking for entertainment get tired of repetitive formats, especially when they can choose from hundreds of designs built on the same game mechanics. They can also get frustrated by losses to a random number generator, or simply want a truly different experience. Offering player-to-player games with minimal friction is one effective way to secure retention in these situations, and at EvenBet Gaming, we’re working on reshaping our product portfolio with exactly that goal in mind.

Spins Poker is the first format designed to fit into an existing operator ecosystem, rather than requiring operators to build a separate ecosystem just for poker.

“Offering player-to-player games with minimal friction is one effective way to secure retention.”

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming.

What conversations do you look forward to having at ICE Barcelona?

First and foremost, with our existing customers and partners. ICE Barcelona brings the entire industry together, and for EvenBet, it’s an invaluable opportunity to reconnect, gain a deeper understanding of our partners’ business needs, and discuss their vision for growth.

I’ll also be joining the emerging markets workshop during the World Gaming Forum and the Africa-focused open tables at iGB Executive, and I expect to gain even more insight into how online gaming will develop worldwide.

Finally, at ICE, we’ll be sharing the first glimpse of our future product portfolio update, pushing the ideas behind Spins Poker even further. Visit our booth 2V30 and try it out first!

EvenBet Gaming CEO Dmitry Starostenkov analyses the future of online poker as the industry heads into 2026, from market growth and player acquisition strategies to regulatory challenges, product innovation with…