We are thrilled to share another interview with EvenBet Gaming‘s CEO, Dmitry Starostenkov.
In this interview, Dmitry discusses what drives the company to success, how to make clients happy, satisfied and how he decided to start the company.
TheGamblest: We are excited to know more about one of the most distinguished iGaming providers, EvenBet Gaming. As the CEO, what motivated you to establish the company, and what were the primary objectives?
Dmitry: We started in the 2000s when the IT sector was just beginning to develop actively. There was a desire to test my abilities and, of course, to earn money. There were also indications that clients were beginning to show interest in our development services, particularly in the field of iGaming. At that time, twenty years ago, it was an entirely new area. Naturally, money wasn’t the only motivation; perhaps a sense of adventure and the desire to explore the unknown also drove me. It’s worth mentioning that our primary niche—poker—almost fell into our laps. It was a combination of coincidence and luck. In the early 2000s, we were developing a wide range of software. For instance, mobile application development was just starting, and we were among the first to offer such services, primarily to large German companies like Siemens. I was constantly on the lookout for areas where I could apply my knowledge practically. Sometimes, during discussions with clients, new and interesting challenges would arise that I hadn’t even considered before. We were always ready for experimentation, and the conditions aligned perfectly. A client approached us and asked, “Can you create a poker game for me?” We estimated it would take a month of work and requested a fairly modest budget (at that time, the company had around 20 employees). We completed the task to the best of our ability. Of course, looking back from the perspective of 2025, that software was somewhat imperfect, but it fulfilled its functions, and the client was extremely satisfied.
TheGamblest: Speaking about the goals that lay at the foundation of EvenBet Gaming, where do you believe the company stands now since it launched in 2004?
Dmitry: I believe that every company goes through two stages in its life. In the first stage, our company was technical; we focused solely on development, which continued until around 2015. Our team consisted almost entirely of programmers (about 100 people) with a minimal number of other specialists—such as a director, chief accountant, office manager, and HR personnel. We had no marketing, no sales, and we didn’t even attempt to build a brand! We operated this way until 2011, when Black Friday hit. For the first 5-6 years of our development work, things came relatively easily; we didn’t have to seek out clients due to the low competition—they came to us. However, after Black Friday, the situation changed. During that time, the US banned most poker sites and completely shut down its market. Our entire business model was built on expectations from that vast segment. Therefore, from 2011 to 2015, things became challenging; we had fewer clients and had to take measures to survive and understand which direction to take. From 2012 onwards, I began attending exhibitions, and I visited ICE for the first time. It took me about three years to figure out how to proceed. I arranged meetings directly at the exhibitions, focused on sales, and implemented SEO optimisation, but at some point, I realised that we needed to strengthen our marketing and build our brand. It was from that time, starting in 2015, that the second phase of the company began. We started focusing on marketing and PR, enhanced our presence at exhibitions, and all these efforts began to yield significant results—bringing in leads. Then, in 2020, COVID-19 hit, which aligned well with our progress and resulted in a substantial boost in revenue. Since then, we have continued to grow primarily because we have maintained our focus on expanding our marketing efforts.
TheGamblest: What upcoming products/services can we expect from EvenBet Gaming in the future?
Dmitry: We fully understand how the audience is changing, and we want to create a product that not only meets their wishes but anticipates them. We will be developing more casual features and games, drawing more from the world of casual gaming and bringing them into the realm of real money. We will experiment with new game formats, possibly simplified versions based on poker. The first class of innovations will be related to what players see: more animation, interactivity, and simplification of game mechanics, while still actively utilising players’ skills in the gameplay. The second class of innovations will involve the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, for example, to facilitate matchmaking between players—connecting players of similar levels. In other words, we aim to create features that enhance player comfort and safety.
TheGamblest: We all know the highest quality of your products and services, but what was the main motivation to keep your focus on poker games?
Dmitry: In the future, based on our expertise in poker and poker mechanics, we will be developing games that are not strictly poker. However, the focus will certainly remain on poker. For a company to achieve success, several factors must come together. What you do must be profitable, you must be capable of doing it, and you must enjoy it. In simple terms, you should be asking yourself: can we create the best product? At this moment, poker and player games meet all these criteria for our company.
TheGamblest: What do you think makes a successful partnership and what are some of the most crucial factors you look for when choosing your partner?
Dmitry: We strive to work with all potential clients; this is the universal secret to the success of any business. Of course, this is within the framework of our strategy. If we do not have a product for a particular client, we cannot provide it, so what is the point of working together? For instance, we do not take on clients who need a casino game developed. We simply do not operate in that area, and trying to start doing so quickly would be pointless. Our partners are those companies for whom our product is suitable, valuable, and capable of generating revenue. We create products that our clients can indeed profit from. This is the primary criterion for selection. Naturally, we work individually with all our partners, offering several levels of service. However, each partner receives from us the most comprehensive and tailored set of services that meet their expectations. What makes a partnership successful? First and foremost, the product must create added value for the client and make sense. Our job is to identify these meanings. Effective communication and building trusting relationships are crucial here. Only in this way can we create a unique product that meets expectations and all criteria.
TheGamblest: Except for traditional poker, you also suggest crypto poker solutions. Can you elaborate on what exactly you bring to the table and how big is the demand?
Dmitry: Let’s say we are quite early adopters. We are the ones who bought pizza for 50 bitcoins back in 2012 (laughs – editor’s note). By 2013, we had integrated bitcoin as a payment method into our platform. Since then, we have been working with cryptocurrencies and blockchain. This is yet another technology that allows for the democratisation of the online gaming market. It is, of course, important to understand this area and work with it, keeping an eye on trends. However, we do not currently have any grand plans related to cryptocurrencies. Perhaps this will change, as life does not stand still, especially in this field, but it is unlikely to happen this year.
TheGamblest: Does leading EvenBet Gaming leave free time for creating a healthy balance between your personal life and hobbies, and where do you get inspiration from?
Dmitry: Unfortunately, there is not much free time left, and maintaining a balance between personal life, hobbies, and work is not always easy. However, for example, I always try to find time for reading and running; I got into this about five years ago and try not to miss a day, even when travelling for work. I draw inspiration from… people, travel, and new challenges.
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