The Festival Series presents newest media partner: Pokera.bg
Recently we have added Pokera.bg as our newest media partner. This Bulgarian poker community is very popular in their own nation, and share the same thoughts of poker than we have with The Festival Series: Poker should be more fun!
Pokera.bg started from a simple love for poker, and thanks to Mariya, it has grown into a key part of the Bulgarian poker community. The store began when the passion for the game got converted into sharing the experiences and through a liveblog of live events.
Over time, the website changed a few times but always kept the same goal: bring the excitement of live poker and celebrate the success of Bulgarian players, such as Presiyan Tsvetanov for example who had won The Festival Rozvadov Main Event.
Today, pokera.bg focuses on poker culture, fun stories, and connecting the community even more as before. In this interview, we talk with the founder of it all, and asked how the platform came to be, what makes it special, and the future plans of this great poker brand called Pokera.bg.
Can you tell us about the story behind pokera.bg? How did the brand come to life?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: My journey with poker began many years ago, and it was love at first sight. Shortly after, I attended my first major live poker event and was completely mesmerized by the whole thing. At the time, social media wasn’t as developed as it is today, and I wanted a platform where I could share my impressions and experiences from the event. That’s how my first poker blog was born.
In the beginning, the website focused on live updates, player interviews, and tournament coverage. Over the years, it went through several name changes and rebrands, but the mission has always remained the same – to keep pokera.bg the home of the Bulgarian poker community.
For me, live events are the heart and soul of poker. This is where the real magic happens, and I truly believe that live poker will never fade away. My goal has always been to bring the excitement of live events to those following from home - sharing the emotions, unforgettable moments, and the success stories of Bulgarian players.
Unfortunately, with the latest gambling regulations in Bulgaria live reporting is not what it used to be and we had to switch to other formats and move entirely to social media.
What can players expect when they join/follow pokera.bg? Could you highlight some unique features of the platform?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: Let me start by telling you what Pokera.bg is NOT 😊. We’re not a poker coaching site - you won’t find strategy guides or advanced training programs here. While we do share the occasional bite-sized poker tips, we don’t claim to be poker gurus. We’re also not an affiliate site, so you won’t be bombarded with promo codes or non-stop deals.
Instead, Pokera.bg is all about the poker lifestyle. We bring together entertainment, casino stories from around the world, and most importantly, we celebrate the success and global recognition of Bulgarian poker players. Whether it's tournament triumphs, behind-the-scenes moments, or exciting live event coverage, Pokera.bg is where the heart of the Bulgarian poker community beats.
How does pokera.bg foster a sense of community among its players?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: At its core, Pokera.bg is all about the Bulgarian poker community. We bring players together by covering live events, sharing exciting stories, and shining a spotlight on the biggest Bulgarian poker achievements—both online and live. But beyond the coverage, we strive to build a reputation for our players, support them on their poker journey, and challenge the misconceptions surrounding the game.
Poker is often misunderstood, and we want to show that it’s a legitimate profession, no different from any other skill-based career. Through our platform, we aim to celebrate the highs, acknowledge the struggles, and continue to grow a strong, connected community that supports and inspires one another.
What are your future plans for pokera.bg? Are there any exciting new features or expansions in the works?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: As I mentioned, the recent changes in Bulgaria’s gambling laws have forced us to adapt, shifting our focus to new formats and transitioning entirely to social media. Pokera.bg is a family project - just me and my husband. No big team, no big budget - just two people balancing careers, hobbies, travel, and everything in between. Of course, that’s not always easy, and time is precious! 😊
There are no major future plans. I’d love to be able to dedicate more time to telling all the stories I want to share, but for now, this is where we are - and that’s okay. Plus, I’m working on stepping up my video reel production game, because let’s face it, that’s what people love these days!
How do you see the future of online poker evolving, particularly in the context of growing online gambling regulations across Europe/Bulgaria?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: In my personal opinion, regulations are a good thing, when done properly. Sadly, this is not the case in Bulgaria. The lawmakers have no idea what they’re doing and are just following political orders, while damaging the industry and forcing big international companies to leave the market.
Also, if you go too heavy with regulations, you just force players to shift to non-licensed poker rooms, that could afford to give top deals to players. And honestly, I get it – everyone is looking for an edge. In the future, poker rooms will be forced to invest heavily into cybersecurity, fraud detection, marketing, and affiliates to retain their players and stay competitive.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their poker journey?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: If you want to become a professional poker player, community is everything. It’s almost impossible to succeed on your own – you’ll need all the support you can get.
Find yourself a solid poker coaching team. Do the work. Get ready both physically and mentally – it’s not going to be easy. Maintain a healthy balance with your personal life.
Set a clear timeframe and budget - say, one year. When that time is up, be brutally honest with yourself. Evaluate your progress, reassess your goals, and adjust your strategy if needed.
If poker remains a passion rather than a profession, that’s okay too. Grind on weekends, hit up a live event nearby, enjoy the game - but come Monday, back to work! 😊
Pokera.BG is now officially a media partner of The Festival Series. Will we see you over at one of our events in the future? What is your take on Mixed Games and what do you think about our hospitality events?
Mariya, Pokera.bg: I just saw the schedule of your upcoming festival in Rozvadov, and honestly, it sounds like a dream come true! We really hope to be able to attend and try out all the crazy formats. My husband is an avid Mixed Games fan – he’s even part of a small Mixed Game community here in Bulgaria where a bunch of friends get together to play and even create their own formats! So, visiting one of your festivals is definitely in our to-do list for the upcoming months.
The way I see it, Pokera.bg and The Festival Series share the same vision – poker is all about the fun! And to quote one of my favorite movies – I think this is a beginning of a beautiful friendship.
