A Bright Future for Banco Casino: An Exclusive Interview with Jan Packa

Nestled in the heart of Slovakia’s capital, Banco Casino Bratislava has become a premier destination for poker enthusiasts across Europe. Since its inception in 2015, this vibrant venue has hosted some of the most prestigious international tournaments, including the Norwegian Poker Championship, Swedish Poker Championship, Scandinavian Poker Open, Tana delle Tigri, and the Polish Poker Cup. As Banco Casino continues to elevate Slovakia's poker scene, we had the privilege of speaking with Jan Packa, the casino's Marketing Director, about its journey, milestones, and vision for the future.

You studied at the Technical University of Košice and are now the Marketing Director at Banco Casino in Bratislava. How did you transition into the casino industry after obtaining an engineering degree? How has your career evolved since then?

I've been playing online poker since high school and worked for what was at the time the biggest poker site in Slovakia. I was passionate about all things poker then (and still am). So, after college, it wasn't so much a big change in my life as it was a challenge. Banco Casino opened its doors in June 2015, and I started working shortly after that. It's been almost ten years now.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my spare time? (Laughs.) Of the sports, there is definitely tennis, which I have now fallen in love with. I would also include active rest in the mountains, skiing, or getting to know new countries and their cities.

Banco Casino is now well-known and popular not only in Slovakia but also internationally. Was it always the goal to build a brand that extends beyond the borders of Slovakia?

When I first entered Banco Casino, I knew it could become an international poker casino—beautiful premises in the Crowne Plaza hotel, the center of the historic city, Bratislava's great position on the map of Europe—many attributes played in our favor. But we all knew that the road would not be easy. We had goals, visions, and dreams, many of which we have fulfilled and will fulfill again. Banco Casino itself permanently changed poker in Slovakia and put Bratislava on the world poker map, without a doubt.

What were the initial steps toward success, and what have been the key milestones in Banco Casino’s history?

I think it was a symbiosis of several factors—the support of the management and casino owners, an excellent team, and the desire to raise poker in Slovakia to at least a European level. We gradually built our brands, such as Banco Casino Masters (the first tournament took place in 2016), the Slovak Series Of Poker (2016), Slovak Poker Open, and many others. I mustn't forget that we partnered with great organizations who shared our vision, and we've been working together ever since.

How do you approach organizing a major poker festival? What are the biggest challenges, and how do you prepare for these events?

We have a great team that already knows exactly what to do and can handle even the biggest challenges, which we no longer consider challenges but a normal day at Banco Casino. More than 1,000 players playing poker is typical for us. We basically organize huge events every two weeks, so preparation differs in details from event to event.

The recent Polish Poker Championship was a huge success with 7,084 entries and a prize pool of €782,782. This was the largest tournament you’ve organized to date. What was it like to handle this event as an organizer? Did you encounter any unexpected difficulties?

I must admit that the number also took my breath away. It's 2,000 more entries than the previous record from 2023. We expected many poker players from all over the world, and we were prepared for the biggest rush in years, but what happened was incredible. I am very happy that my colleagues managed such a rush at Banco Casino without any major complications. I would also like to thank the players for their cooperation. We see that we have room to grow and improve, which makes me happy, as we haven’t hit the ceiling yet.

Banco Casino has several international partners, such as Poland's Legalny Poker and Italy's Tana delle Tigri team. How do these collaborations develop?

We’ve had most of our partnerships for several years, and I am very grateful for them. We have stable partners with whom we’ve grown together, as well as new partnerships to which we’re always open. Most of them feel more like a poker family than just partnerships. We’re glad that our friendships extend in all directions of the world. Banco Casino has an open door for anyone who wants to “level up” poker, create something for the poker community, or bring something new to the poker industry. If we see these attributes, it’s a good basis for developing a partnership.

If we understand correctly, major changes will soon begin at Banco. However, poker will not be affected, and you’ll still welcome players as usual. Can you tell us more about this?

Yes, there will be big changes that I think will be great news for poker players. From December 1, Banco Casino will become one of the largest poker houses in the center of a European capital. We are planning renovations at the beginning of the year, which will not affect Banco's operations. Among the positive changes, Banco will have more tables, more comfort, and an entirely non-smoking zone. In 2025, we are also planning events that have not yet been held at Banco, so we see these changes as an opportunity to raise the level of poker in Slovakia.

What plans do you have for 2025? Will you bring back the well-known, popular festivals, or are you preparing any new events?

I must admit that we have ambitious plans as always. At this moment, we have four stops of the Polish Poker Series confirmed, TheFestival will also take place again, and the new event announced is the Norwegian Poker Championship / Norge-Mesterskapet 2025. Of course, we will soon announce other events that have already been held here. 

Do you have any future vision or dream that you would like to realize at Banco Casino?

I have—we have—many unfulfilled dreams that we are working on, and if they become reality, I will definitely share them with you. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but Banco will always try to bring the best, as it has since 2015!

Discover more about Banco Casino Bratislava and its upcoming events on their official website.