The popular game of poker has found a new home in the Caribbean, thanks to the management team of the Barbados Federation of Poker Inc. In 2015 the group was successful in its efforts which saw Barbados becoming the first member nation from the Caribbean to join the International Federation of Match Poker (IFMP); the international governing body for sports poker.
In that same year the group was also successful in securing acceptance from the National Sports Council to become the official National Sporting Organization for Poker within the country.
Over the last few years, the management team has not been without its own challenges, however with a firm commitment and determination in place they have been able to steadily foster the growth and interest in the game among a wide cross-section of people.
Current president of the Federation, Damien Haynes commented “When it comes to poker in Barbados, we’re all-in.”
Mr Haynes added; “What we have seen is not only rapid growth in global participation but also in spectatorship through the likes of ESPN and GSN.”
Later this month on 22nd April 2019, the Federation intends to host the first ever official poker tournament in Barbados. Following this event the young team will seek to leverage strategic relationships with the hope of expanding both the sporting and recreational side of the game in an effort to optimize and realize the existing tourism potential that it has.
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