Home>Author

John Popko

Writer
John Popko is a journalist with more than ten years of experience reporting on the APAC region, with a focus on games, technology, and esports. He currently works as a writer and editor at INVEN, South Korea’s largest gaming publication, and has contributed as a freelancer to Rest of World, The Diplomat, The Escapist, and The Korea Times. Previously, he served as a staff writer at Esports Heaven. He is also the author of The Makers of Faker, an upcoming biography that chronicles the career of iconic Korean esports legend Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.
John Popko
ARTICLES WRITTEN
ARTICLES WRITTEN 110
FAVOURITE GAMES
FAVOURITE GAMES League of Legends, Disco Elysium, and Bioshock Infinite
CURRENTLY PLAYING
CURRENTLY PLAYING Balatro

MORE AUTHORS

EXPERTISE

John specialize in reporting on games, esports, and technology across the APAC region, with a particular focus on South Korea. My work combines industry analysis, cultural context, and on-the-ground reporting to examine how gaming and esports shape media, business, and society. He has extensive experience covering professional esports ecosystems, game development, and the global impact of gaming culture across multiple Asian countries.

John Popko's Recommendation

"Watch the documentary State of Play—it’s a sharp look at the people and pressures behind competitive gaming. It’s a worthwhile watch for understanding how esports operates beyond the matches."

TOP STORIES

EXPERIENCE

  • Esports Insider
    Esports Insider Writer 2025 - Present
  • Grossmont College
    Grossmont College AS, Business Administration and Management, General 2022 - 2024
  • Inven Global
    Inven Global Senior Editor 2021 - Present

ALL ARTICLES

1 2 3 4 … 13

MORE AUTHORS

ESI Ranking System
We’ve created a ranking system to help you quickly know how good each gambling platform is. As gamblers ourselves, we know which factors matter most to you, so we follow a best-in-class methodology to test each one with no stone unturned. Once done, we then rank each platform based on the following tiers:
  • A-Tier High-quality sites that deliver a top experience every time. They boast strong performance, nice features, and reliable support, but are just shy of perfection.
  • B-Tier Solid platforms that are worth a spin. They’re safe, fun, and functional, but may be lacking advanced features or have minor drawbacks.
  • S-Tier Reserved for elite operators only. These go well beyond the norm with lucrative bonuses, rewarding promotions, lightning-fast payouts, and a flawless experience overall.
To read more details about how we review casino and betting sites, check out How We Rate Gambling Operators.