Poker face

Ankur Dewani, CEO of PokerStars tells us what it takes to be a pro poker player.

Tell us something about the history of online poker.

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The global online poker industry started in 2003. Poker in the West is as popular as teen patti in India. Abroad it is a culture for family and friends to play poker together in a regular manner. It is an exciting game with worldwide acceptance. It started in India in 2006, when Zynga entered the market. The trendis great, as number of players have increased from just 1,000 to nearly 1.5 million in India in the past decade.

How did your interest in the game come about?

In 2008, I completed my MBA in finance. I was excited about poker and often played with friends. Back then, I was working with Poker Planet and we sold Poker merchandise online. We also held a tournament where 300 people participated. The concept was early for its time. Poker grew in the online space as one had to attend live events in person and it was a lot more convenient to participate online.

Why did you start PokerStars?

PokerStars is the biggest online poker company. We have more than19 licenses in the country. The company was founded by a father-son duo, who had seen a gap in the market. The idea behind the company was to promote a player-centric platform. Player feedback was given due importance. We focused on player security, integrity and made our system fraud proof as we wanted to follow responsible gaming norms. We wanted to self-regulate and make sure the industry grows organically. Players have appreciated our approach and today we have a market share of 70 per cent.

What’s your opinion of government regulation on poker in India?

I think there is a lack of awareness about the regulations in India. The law states that a game of skill cannot be classified as gambling. Poker is most definitely a game of skill as your actions determine the outcome. The element of chance is not as big as it is in a game like roulette. As a business, we pay taxes to the government and are not conducting any improper activity. In many countries, there are regulations around games of skill as well. I firmly believe that India will also make these laws in due course of time. It is the job of the industry to spread awareness about the game and organise it in a legal and safe manner.

How is poker different from other card games?

As a card game lover, I can attest that there is a big difference between poker and other card games. Most card games are somewhat limited because one has to make do with the cards one is dealt with. However, in poker the outcome can change and one is not limited to the cards they are dealt with. Further, poker is an information rich game and requires the skill to make decisions based on ambiguous circumstances. One can make bets, call a bluff and use their minds to navigate the game. The cards and chips are just ammunition for the right player, as the outcome depends on how he uses them.

How do you plan to engage players on PokerStars?

We are not trying to promote a Vegas like image of poker and are quite mature about the way we portray the game. We believe in following good marketing strategies like celebrity endorsements. At the end of the day, life is like poker. People use game theory at work and constantly try and predict unpredictable situations. It is a competitive game and keeps your mind sharp. We also make sure that only adults play on our platform.

Do you conduct any offline events for players?

I think that the real deal in poker is offline. A live event gives one the chance to see their opponents and read their expressions. We do live event every month in major parts of the world like Macau and the Bahamas. A live event makes players loyal to the brand, and helps them engage with other players and socialise.

What’ the future of the poker business in India?

As of today, online gaming is a big industry in India. It is a $300-400 million dollar and is set to grow into one billion dollar market in three to five years. We have achieved 50 per cent year-on-year growth in an organic manner. People are taking up online poker as a hobby or are being referred by their friends.

Tell us a little about your team pros?

Our team pros are players who have been playing for a long time and are well respected within the circle. We take great pride in the achievements of our team pros Aditya Agarwal and Muskaan Sethi. Aditya has been in the circuit for the past 14 years and has represented the brand in global events held in the USA and Europe. Muskaan is one of the few women who have taken up poker professionally.

From the November 2018 issue of FHM India.