Interview With Lloyd Fontillas: The Man Behind Gods Of Poker

Somuchpoker interviewed industry veteran Lloyd Fontillas, General Manager and founder of Asia’s newest brand Gods Of Poker, whose three-decade journey in the industry has taken him from the dealer’s box to managing major tours, and helping build poker communities across Asia.

Now, for the first time, he is channeling all that experience into his own brand — one designed to restore fun, fairness, and true competition to the live scene. Fontillas discusses the inspiration behind Gods of Poker, the philosophy behind its structures, and why he believes now is the right time to redefine the modern poker tour.

Lloyd Fontillas: The Man Behind Gods Of Poker

Can you share with us your poker background leading up to today?

I’ve been in the poker industry for over 30 years now. I was a poker dealer back in the day, and that foundation shaped everything I’ve built since. Over the years I’ve trained dealers across Asia, managed countless events, directed a major tour, and helped grow poker communities from the ground up. Every step, whether on the floor, in the booth, or behind the scenes, gave me a deeper understanding of how this game brings people together. Those experiences eventually led me to take the next big step and create something of my own with the help and support of friends that I consider family.

Having been in the industry for 30 years, what continues to drive this passion?

It’s the people. Poker has taken me across Asia, given me lifelong friendships, and allowed me to  watch communities grow, evolve, and support each other. I’ve seen players start out in small local rooms and grow into champions. Have trained countless dealers and floor staff that are now considered world class staff. I’ve also seen friendships and families built around the game. That human connection and the joy this game brings to people, is what keeps me motivated every single day.

Inspiration, Vision, And Philosophy Of The Brand

Gods of Poker is your first personal brand. What inspired this vision? Why now, and what did you feel was lacking?

After decades in this industry, I felt poker had lost something important: fun. Energy. Community. Somewhere along the way the game, the players became too focused on late-reg shortcuts, and stalling. As for the organizers, more are creating longer registration periods to increase re-entries, that transpires into exhausting days which takes away from the experience. I wanted to bring back what made poker special, competition, connection, and story. And I wanted to build a brand that players could truly enjoy on and off the felts. Gods of Poker is my answer to all of that. A tour built on fairness, deeper play, a cool look that revolves around Greek mythology, and an experience that respects the players’ time and investment.

Why now? Because after everything I’ve learned and the relationships I have made throughout the industry, I finally felt ready to build something that truly reflects my vision.

What excites you personally about building this brand from the ground up?

Everything. The creativity, the structures, the trophies, the visuals, the team, the community. It’s rare in life to get a chance to build something from zero with total freedom. I wake up excited to work on this every day, from designing the Cronus structure to shaping the themes, to speaking with players and partners. Seeing the brand grow piece by piece is something I will never forget.

How does the name “Gods of Poker” tie into the identity of the brand? How was the name chosen?

Poker is full of stories, heroes, villains, legends, and unforgettable moments. I wanted a brand that captured that sense of mythology and grandeur. Something bold, something iconic, something that stands apart from every other tour. The gods represent strength, identity, and timeless competition, exactly what poker should feel like. When you walk into a GOP event, you should feel like you’ve stepped into a world where stories are written and champions rise.

GOP puts strong emphasis on structure and player experience. The Cronus Structure is certainly exciting. How was it crafted and how will it enhance player experience?

Cronus is the god of time, and time is gold in poker. Players are tired of 14-hour days, late-reg abuse, and shallow late entries that ruin the flow of tournaments. So, I redesigned everything.

The Cronus Structure gives players in most of our events:

• 120 big blinds to start
• Only 2 levels of late registration
• Max late reg at 30 big blinds
• Meaningful early play
• Shorter days
• Fairer competition

The idea really sparked during a high roller event I was watching that started with two tables and somehow ended up with 12. I watched players who showed up on time constantly get moved, while others wandered in seven or nine hours late, it just didn’t feel right. So, I rebuilt each of the structures from the ground up.

By removing the early levels that more than 70% of today’s players don’t even want to play, we can start events after a proper lunch, finish at a reasonable hour, give both players and staff real rest, and yes, Cronus even allows me to sneak in an early tee time or stay out late entertaining players.

What is the core philosophy behind this innovation?

Simple: Respect the players’ time. Respect the purity of competition. Make poker fun again. Everything we designed flows from those three principles.

Feedback And Upcoming Launches

You’ve been hosting Arena Events leading up to the debut. How has the structure been received?

Players love it. Many expressed to me how they like seeing more players starting early. The deeper stacks at the close of registration, the shorter days, and the clean late-reg rules brought back the feeling of a real tournament poker. It has been refreshing for everyone.

What can players expect from the official December debut of Gods of Poker?

A full experience, mythology, production, player care, and world-class competition.

Expect:

• A stunning Zeus-themed “Eden Awakens” festival
• The full Cronus Structure rollout
• Beautiful trophies
• Activities and social experiences around the venue
• A tighter, more efficient schedule
• A poker event designed around fun, fairness, and community
• It will set the tone for everything that comes after.

How many stops can players expect in the new year?

We are launching with 3 official stops, with 2 of them slated for 2026 which is Taipei in partnership with CTP from January 8-18 and Phnom Penh in partnership with Naga World March 26 to April 5. And as a promise we will be announcing another 4 more stops for 2026 as a second installment before we head to Jeju and a final installment this coming January to complete our calendar.

Fontillas’ message to players:

Thank you. So many of you have supported me for years, on and off the felt, and this brand is my way of giving something back. I built Gods of Poker with you in mind, your experience, your memories, your enjoyment.

I hope you’ll join us in December 5-14, 2025 at the mighty LES A Casino (formally Landing) in Jeju, South Korea as we start this new chapter together. Let’s bring the fun back to poker and let’s make history.

Links:

Gods Of Poker Debuts: Eden Awakens
Win Your Seat To GOP Main Event