Is Poker a Sport?
Poker is a card game that combines gambling, strategy, and skill. The winner of each hand is determined according to the combinations of players' cards. The game involves betting as an intrinsic part of the play.
Poker games vary in the number of cards dealt, the number of shared cards, the number of cards that remain hidden, and the betting procedures. Of the many variations of the game, Texas Hold'em is the most popular.
Poker does not fit our definition of a real sport as it is not primarily a human physical activity, but is included on this list of sports as some people believe it should be.
poker cards and chipsPoker Becoming A Sport
In 2010, Poker was officially accepted as a mind sport by the International Mind Sports Association at the organization's congress held in Dubai, UAE.
In 2017, the International Federation of Poker was given 'observer status' by the Global Association of International Sports Federations, paving the way for it to be considered officially a sport
Despite poker featuring on ESPN and having some official recognition, it might be a long time before we see it at the Olympic Games.
Trivia
- One of the most apt names in sport was Chris Moneymaker, the World Series of Poker Champion 2003.
- In 2005, poker player Joe Hachem became the 4th highest earner on the BRW Top 50 Australian Sports Earners for 2005
- In 2011, the World Series of Poker was listed as 6th on the Highest Paying Sporting Events in 2011.
Similar Sports
- Bridge — a card game that is played by four players, playing in two competing partnerships. Players score points based on the number of tricks achieved.
- Chess — a strategy board game played by two players on a checkered gameboard with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid.
- Memory Sports — (sometimes called competitive memory) is a competition in which the participants ("memory athletes") attempt to memorize the most information that they can before presenting it back.
Related Pages
- About Mind Sports
- About the World Mind Sports Events
- Is Bridge A Sport?
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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