PokerListings: A Longstanding Name in Global Poker Media
In an industry that has seen dramatic swings, from the online poker boom of the early 2000s to regulation shifts and the rise of live festival-style tours, PokerListings has remained a familiar name to players around the world.
For many, PokerListings was one of the first websites they visited when looking for information about online poker rooms, bonuses, strategy articles, or comparisons between platforms. Over time, it developed into more than just an affiliate site; it became part of the wider poker conversation. But also PokerListings had it's swings, just like any poker player has experienced at least once in their lives.
As we humbly continue to grow with The Festival Series, it's worth looking at the history of PokerListings, and how its journey brought our and their brand together in different shapes.
From Online Boom to Industry Fixture
Founded during the absolute poker boom with Chris Moneymaker in 2003, PokerListings quickly positioned itself as a comparison and information portal. At a time when new poker rooms were popping out of the ground as muchrooms, players were navigating themselves through unfamiliar territory. The need for structured, reliable information was clear.
At the very beginning, PokerListings focused on:
- Independent-style poker room reviews
- Bonus comparisons
- Beginner and intermediate strategy guides
- Poker news and industry updates
Over the years, the brand expanded in multiple markets, publishing localized content and building search, visibility across different countries. By the mid-2000s, PokerListings was widely recognized within the affiliate and media landscape of poker.
New Chapter
At one stage in its development, PokerListings became part of a wider portfolio, a Malta-based affiliate marketing company operating within the iGaming sector. They pursued a strategy of gaining established digital gambling assets across poker, casino, and sports betting. PokerListings fit naturally into that model: It had history, domain authority, and an international footprint.
During this period, PokerListings operated within a larger corporate framework, besides just being an independent poker media outlet. The focus shifted more toward marketing, and built a consistent brand based on affiliate industry trends.
Importantly, this was also the period when The Festival Series entered the picture.
The Connection to The Festival Series
The Festival Series was created with a different kind of live poker experience in mind. A schedule blending mixed games, accessible buy-ins, and a strong social atmosphere. Rather than focusing exclusively on the prestige that often comes with poker, the goal was to build something players would genuinely enjoy attending. Martin 'Franke' von Zweigbergk knocked on the door of PokerListings with ecactly this idea. And that's where everything started for our brand that is known as 'The Festival Series'.
With PokerListings and The Festival Series connected under the same ownership umbrella for a time, there was clear strategic overlap.
PokerListings provided:
- Promotional visibility across established poker markets
- Liveblog coverage and updates
- A channel to reach recreational and semi-professional players
For The Festival Series, having access to an existing global poker audience helped accelerate awareness during the early stages. For PokerListings, the relationship created a direct link to live event content and grassroots community engagement.
It was a match made in heaven, where PokerListings supported live poker, and The Festival Series was able to start up as a humble 'home game' event.
Shifting Levels
That shared chapter is now part of history.
PokerListings and The Festival Series are no longer under the same ownership structure since 2022-2023. What once sat within the same group has since moved in different directions.
For PokerListings, this marked another transition in a long timeline of adjustments. For The Festival Series, it allowed full independence in shaping the brand's indentiry and long-term strategy.
PokerListings in Today’s Landscape
The poker media environment looks very different compared to when PokerListings first launched. At the start of 2024, PokerListings was taken over once again. And has since then, shifted gears. Content is now driven heavily by:
- Streaming platforms
- Social media channels
- Influencer-driven communities
- Direct operator marketing
Old-school affiliate sites have had to change how they present themselves. These days, many players find poker rooms through streamers and content creators instead of traditional comparison websites.
Still, well-known brands matter. When a site has been around for a long time, people recognize it. And when people recognize a name, they’re more likely to trust it, even in a crowded and competitive market.
PokerListings still has value because of its name, its history, and the important part it played in the early days of online poker. Even if you take in consideration that the generations of players in poker has shifted enourmously over the past two decades.
A Shared Chapter in Modern Poker
While the ownership ties between PokerListings and The Festival no longer exist, that period remains part of the broader story of how poker media and live events operated side by side within the same poker environment.
Not many might remember, but PokerListings was for example also the absolute fundaments of another live event: Battle Of Malta. The brand had been sold in 2018, but also there, PokerListings had made from a relative small event, one of European's most popular events. An event that is nowadays taken to moon and back by Casino Malta, resulting in epic number of entries, year after year.
The Festival Series and PokerListings have both evolved since then. The Festival Series continues to focus on creating player-first experiences built around variety, atmosphere, and accessibility. PokerListings, meanwhile, continues its journey within the competitive affiliate and poker business. At the same time, PokerListings consistently produces excellent coverage of The Festival Series, publishing high-quality articles and reports from virtually every stop and event along the way. The Festival Series is extremely proud of this collaboration and values the continued support and storytelling that PokerListings brings to the table.
The history is built on such chapters in life: Moments when media platforms and live tours closely worked together in shaping how players engage with the game. In that case, PokerListings has earned its place. And we are proud to have them as media partner still connected to the brand of The Festival Series.
