03/03/2010, Online poker

The International Olympic Committee encourages the recognition of the poker game as a sport.

The International Federation of Poker will become a member of the International Mind Sports Association starting from April and it will ensure the good spirit and the true values which are promoted in sports. This means that the International Olympic Committee already added Poker to its list of games, which includes chess as well. This is a huge step forward for poker and for its recognition as a sport.

The US authorities still consider poker as a game of luck and chance.
Antony Holden, who wrote several bestselling books on poker, said: “Poker is not like the rest of the casino games. It is rather a social game where players challenge each other and Strategy plays a role far more important than luck.”
Globally there are between 120 and 150 million poker players.

Indeed, poker is played in casinos, but that's its only point in common with slot machines. Poker requires training, practice, exercise, personal improvement. The player might get lucky sometimes, but the performances of a poker player are measured according to other criteria.

A journalist from ESPN.com asked several poker players' opinions regarding poker's place in sport.
Here is what the professional poker players declared:

Daniel Negreanu: “I'm going to say no. I think if there was an Olympics of mind sports, like chess and backgammon and so on, I think poker would belong, but you think of the Olympics as physical.”
Howard Lederer: “I don't think poker is a sport. It's the greatest game in the world, but it's not a sport. The Olympics is the place for sports without leagues. Poker has its own place.”
Barry Greenstein: “No, it's not a sport. Sports involve athleticism.”
Antonio Esfandiari: “Yes, it should be in the Olympics. It's a sport like any sport and each country can send players who represent that country.”
Andy Bloch: “Of course it should! If golf is a sport, then poker is a sport! I'm not completely serious, but Full Tilt Poker was behind an effort in 2004 to get poker classified as a sport. I think there should be an Olympics for games people don't call sports. It would be nice to see the game recognized that way.”