For Brenda Farmer, running Region 162 of the WPT Amateur Poker League in Denver is more than a job; it’s a labor of love.
Farmer, a single mother of two, didn’t become a WPT APL league provider to get rich – she’s got a steady day job that pays the bills — but instead, devotes much of her free time to running her league because of the friendships she’s developed over the past three years. Her dedication has paid off, as her league now boasts more than 1,200 members, including Laura Abeyta-Martinez, who won the 2012 World Poker Tour Amateur Championship at the Tropicana in Las Vegas this past April.
We recently sat down with Brenda, who hosts 32 games per week in 10 separate venues around Denver, to find out how she turned her poker passion into one of the most successful leagues in the WPT APL.
WPT Blog: How long have you been playing poker?
BF: I’d been playing poker online for a few years and started playing live poker in February 2009 in WPT Amateur Poker League Region 161 down in Colorado Springs.
How did you go from being a player to becoming a league provider?
After starting as a player in February 2009, I quickly became interested in becoming a provider. I looked into it and saw there wasn’t a league in the Denver Metro Area, so I decided to fill that position by becoming a league provider in October 2009.
What is it about working with WPT APL that you find so appealing?
The name “WPT” means everything. There are tons of Mom & Pop leagues in Denver and the competition is fierce. WPT stands out and [because of that] WPT Amateur Poker League is now one of the largest free poker leagues in the city. The opportunity to go to Vegas for the World Poker Tour Amateur Championship is also a great differentiator, and is very appealing to our members.
Are there any tips or tricks that you think helped make your league so successful?
I think the biggest tip to making my league successful is the hand-on interaction with my venues and my members. We have a fun, inviting, family like league where members really care about each other and support each other.
What advice would you give to other potential league providers around the country?
My advice would be to give your league the attention it deserves. You need to build a solid foundation. Building your member base and establishing loyalty is the key [to success].
For more information on how you can become a league provider like Barbara, visit the World Poker Tour APL website or email the WPT APL at [email protected].