EvenBet Gaming and Devilfish Poker launch community-driven social poker platform

EvenBet Gaming, a Malta-based online poker and gaming software developer, has announced a partnership with Devilfish Poker to bring Devilfish.com to market. The social poker platform went live on 21 August 2025.

Devilfish.com is described as a Web3-powered, free-to-play poker room built on EvenBet’s poker technology and integrated with Devilfish’s NFT-driven ecosystem. The companies say the platform uses digital assets and gamified sweepstakes mechanics to attract players while prioritising long-term engagement over one-off acquisition.

Dual-access structure

The platform operates a two-tier model. All users can access core poker gameplay for free, receiving a daily allocation of play money for cash tables and tournaments. Players holding premium NFT avatars get additional benefits, including extended access, a broader range of tournaments and further gameplay options.

The avatars are customisable and purchasable, acting as both a visual identifier and a means of unlocking further features within the ecosystem as players invest more in them. Daily distribution of play money is automated, according to the companies, removing the need for manual management of player access.

Addressing retention challenges

EvenBet and Devilfish say the platform is designed to address poker’s high churn rates, citing an industry figure of up to 85% of players dropping off within their first few sessions. By building a community-focused structure rather than a purely transactional one, the partners aim to convert casual sign-ups into longer-term, loyal users.

Dmitry Starostenkov, chief executive of EvenBet Gaming, said the company was supporting Devilfish Poker’s approach with its customisable poker platform, describing the combination of NFTs and player segmentation as an example of technology and community values working together.

JJ Williams, founder of Devilfish Poker, called Devilfish.com one of the most ambitious poker projects the industry has seen, saying the partnership combines technology with player-focused values aimed at growing grassroots poker participation.

EvenBet Gaming operates from offices in Malta, the United States, Serbia, Armenia and Colombia, and holds an MGA B2B licence. The company has received industry recognition including the EGR B2B Awards’ Poker Provider title in 2024.