button in SafariMeet the 2019 WSOP Main Event Finalist on a Mission to Revolutionize Poker Travel
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is right around the corner, and every year it brings a wave of players to Las Vegas, each with their own fascinating story to tell.
Back in 2019, Miloš Skrbic turned heads by making that year's WSOP Main Event final table, finishing ninth for $1,000,000 as Hossein Ensan went on to be crowned world champion. For most, a run that deep in poker’s biggest tournament would be a sail off into the sunset moment, but Skrbic, a globetrotting pro who has played in more than 40 countries, wasn’t done there.
Away from the tables, Skrbic and his team are trying to tackle one of poker’s longest-standing challenges: travel. In doing so, he founded Rakeroom, a specialist poker travel platform created by players, for players, that offers free or discounted stays at card rooms around the world.
It's a simple exchange: casinos get players through the door, while players are rewarded for the hours they put in on the grind. The aim is to make traveling for poker feel that bit more worthwhile, turning time on the circuit into a treat rather than a chore.
Anyway, PokerNews was intrigued, so we caught up with the near 20-year pro to find out what it is like to sit at the final table of poker’s biggest stage, and to hear more about Rakeroom and how it all works.
The Interview
PokerNews: Miloš, can you tell us a bit about your poker journey, especially what it was like reaching the WSOP 2019 Main Event Final Table?
Miloš Skrbic: I’ve been a professional poker player since 2008, mostly focusing on live cash games and some larger tournaments, with an online background in the first three to four years of my career. For a good part of that time, I was a regular in cash games in San Diego and Las Vegas, where I was actually based during the 2019 WSOP Main Event.
Regarding the 2019 WSOP Main Event final table, it was definitely the biggest thing a poker player can experience. Before that score, I had a final table in the WSOPE Main Event and a runner-up finish in the Five Diamond, but neither of those moments felt as big as even making Day 6 of the WSOP Main Event and reaching the top 100. Of course, ESPN makes everything feel even bigger.
It’s been many years since then, but it still hurts that I didn’t manage to win it, because I really went for it. It was an amazing experience and a huge milestone, even though I only played six hands at the final table.
PN: How did your experiences as a player influence the idea behind Rakeroom, especially with so many flags on Hendon Mob, you must love to travel to play?
MS: I think I’ve played poker in about 40 countries, and I have 46 on my travel list, with most of those trips being for poker. During those travels, especially in the earlier stages of my career when I had fewer contacts in the poker world, I was often stepping into the unknown. There wasn’t much information available, so you never really knew what to expect. That lack of reliable data was one of the main reasons I decided, years later, to build a platform called Rakeroom.
PN: What gap in the market were you hoping to fill with Rakeroom, and why should players consider using Rakeroom if they're traveling for poker?
MS: There is still a clear gap in the market, as nothing quite like Rakeroom currently exists. We aim to provide users with the deals on our platform and the most accurate and transparent information when they're booking a poker stay. For players looking to travel with a trusted organizer, Rakeroom operates as a registered company working exclusively with licensed casinos and card rooms, supported by formal contracts and terms and conditions.
For those seeking a structured and secure way to travel to established cash game venues and festival destinations, Rakeroom offers a proven option.
PN: Can you give readers an overview of the destinations and poker rooms currently available on Rakeroom, and what’s coming next?
MS:There are currently 21 listings on Rakeroom, with destinations available across four continents. Some of the better-known venues we have partnered with include Chamada, Portomaso, Princess (St. Maarten), and Banco Casino Bratislava, among many others.
Our vision is for Rakeroom to become a platform that people will trust, and will become the first option players think about when it comes to booking a room for their poker travel.
To that end, we are actively working to add more destinations on a regular basis, with additional venues coming soon, alongside upcoming promotions and a loyalty program currently in development!
PN: Rakeroom's referral program is a big part of how users can benefit. How does it work, and what was the inspiration behind it?
MS: A referral program is already in place, allowing users to earn benefits by inviting friends to use the platform. Each user can generate their own referral code directly from their Rakeroom profile and share it with others.
Later this year, the referral system will be integrated into a broader loyalty program, which will offer additional rewards and expanded benefits for active users.
PN: Finally, and thanks for your time, for other poker rooms or casinos interested in joining Rakeroom, what should they know about the process?
MS: All partnerships with casinos and poker rooms are formalized through a standard template agreement signed with each venue. Listing and promotion on Rakeroom are completely free of charge.
Once the key details are agreed, our team assists with the onboarding and listing process to ensure a smooth setup and launch on the platform. Anyone can get in touch with us if they want to learn more, either via our contact page, or email my colleague Nenad directly at [email protected].
