A Seat at the Table with Poker Businessmen Tom Wheaton and Antonio Sapio

Our UK and Europe reporter Alan Evans spoke with Tom Wheaton of Faded Spade and Antonio Sapio of PartyPoker recently as part of a first, pilot podcast for casinos.com.

The two businessmen have been successful at building their businesses around the poker industry and have been close friends for a number of years. 

Tom Wheaton is the Founder and CEO of a rapidly growing brand in the poker industry - Faded Spade is known as the preferred playing cards of the World Poker Tour and many poker rooms and players across the globe.

PartyPoker is a unique live poker tournament, which tours European destinations including London. Antonio Sapio has been bringing poker to players since 2001. Antonio believes that real players are the lifeblood of the game and should be treated with the respect they deserve.

Listen to the Podcast with Tom and Antonio.

We began by asking Tom what the idea behind Faded Spade was.

Tom explained that about seven years ago, he set out to shake up the poker playing industry. He said: “I wanted to create a modern brand with a fresh design and the highest quality cards. We’ve been really lucky – the poker community welcomed us with open arms, and we’ve paired with big names like the World Poker Tour. 

"Just last year, we decided to expand internationally, especially into the UK and Europe, which is where Antonio comes in.”

Antonio complimented Tom’s brand saying it was fantastic. He said: “For live events, having top-notch equipment and cards is crucial. 

"When I decided to launch my new tour, it was a no-brainer to reach out to Tom. Live events are all about creating an amazing atmosphere, and with Faded Spade involved, I knew we were onto something great.”

Full House of Poker Events Lined Up for Ireland

Tom and Antonio are gearing up for big events in Ireland. We asked them to let us in on what that entails.

Tom said that Antonio had reached out when he was starting a new venture called EDGE, which is a European gaming festival for poker. 

He said: “Last year, we had a great poker conference in Dublin that coincided with the Irish Poker Festival. It was the perfect blend of tournaments and networking, showcasing our cards to a broader audience.”

Some Ace Advice for Wanabee Poker Players

Casinos.com asked tom and Antonio what advice they would give to someone who's interested in getting into poker but feels a bit intimidated.

Antonio said that he would suggest starting with online satellites to qualify for live events, either for free or for just a few cents. He said: “Platforms like PartyPoker offer tons of opportunities to get into live tournaments without breaking the bank. You can even start with free rolls and work your way up from there.”

Both are running successful businesses in this growing field. We asked them what the secret sauce for their success was and what if any were the key lessons learned.

Tom told us that there had been a lot of ups and downs in entrepreneurship. He said: “it’s kinda like a poker tournament. It’s not always smooth sailing. 

"You’ve got to be mentally tough and learn from your failures just as much as your successes. 

"It’s important to understand your business inside out and ask yourself tough questions about your path forward.”

Antonio agreed and said: “For me, it’s all about investing in player experience. That’s what keeps people coming back. If you make the event memorable, you elevate how players perceive your brand. It’s all about creating those connections.”

What Does the Future of the Poker Industry Look Like?

We asked the dynamic businessmen to look ahead and tell us how they saw the future for the poker industry.

Tom was incredibly positive and optimistic. He said: “I really believe we’re on the verge of another poker boom, particularly in Europe. There are so many new players joining, thanks to content creators who are making the game more accessible. 

"With more people wanting to play, we’re seeing bigger prize pools, and a wider range of tournaments pop up.”

Antonio seconded Tom’s outlook and said: “After establishing a strong foothold in Europe, we hope to expand EDGE beyond that. The U.S. market is definitely a dream for us, especially since it’s where a lot of poker magic happens, like in Vegas.”

New Deals, Events and Expansion Across Europe

Speaking of events, we asked Tom and Antonio to tell us what’s coming up next for their respective organisations. 

Antonio was first to answer saying: “The PartyPoker Tour kicks off in London on April 19th and runs until the 27th. We have around 20 tournaments planned, with buy-ins that are accessible for average players. Plus, we’re hosting a poker conference where folks can learn from the pros, which is super exciting.”

Tom gave his look ahead for Faded Spade saying: “Were expanding our logistics too. By April 2025, we’ll have a fulfilment centre in the UK, which will make it easier and cheaper for our customers in Europe to get our cards.”

Key Events for both companies include:

•    PartyPoker Tour in London from April 19th to 27th, 2025.
•    One-day poker conference on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025.
•    PartyPoker Tour in Manchester in June 2025.
•    PartyPoker Tour in Glasgow in August 2025.
•    Two more stops for PartyPoker Tour to be confirmed in October and December 2025.
•    Edge poker conference to be held on October 7th and 8th, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
•    Faded Spade to have a fulfilment centre in Manchester starting in April 2025.

Final Hand from Amiable Businessmen

Tom Wheaton and Antonio Sapio discussed their entrepreneurial ventures in the poker industry with casinos.com. Tom's Faded Spade brand, known for high-quality playing cards and automatic shufflers, has expanded internationally, particularly in the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

Antonio's Edge Poker Conference and new European gaming festival have boosted Faded Spade's brand presence. 

They emphasized the importance of player experience and the growing demand for live poker events. Antonio highlighted the success of online qualifiers for live events, while Tom noted the regulatory challenges in the US. 

Both plan to attend upcoming events in London and Bratislava, with Faded Spade cards available online and a new UK fulfilment centre by April 2025.