Is poker a sport?

I ask the question to all cardchat members today, Is Poker a sport? First of all how would one define sport, does sport have to be a game of physical nature like football or hockey, or does sport have to be involved with both the body and the mind. I would argue that moving the chips around, and standing up for all ins, and when you get a bad beat, throwing your mouse across the room could be part of the physical nature of the game. Yet it is not nearly as physical as a full contact sport.

Secondly you could define a sport but something that is on espn (which poker is) because espn is a sports network. On the other hand so it the spelling bee, so we might not be able to use the definition of, its on espn, as a viable one.

So in conclusion I ask all cardschat members how would you define a "sport" and would you believe poker falls into that realm, and if you do believe that is so, how would you convince someone who believes otherwise?

NO.

Some people would argue that poker can't be a sport because of the role of chance. However, doesn't ever football game start with a "coin flip" IMO a sport is a competition where the opponents pit their skills against each other to determine a "winner". Problem is most people have equated sports with athletics. Tournament poker would be sport but not ring games

Not a sport because there is nothing athletic involved. ("but you have to sit and pay attention for a long time" is a terrible counter to this) This question has been asked a million times. Poker does not have to be a sport to be legitimate.

Hmm it depends arent sports just competitive games in the end. But id say no its not a sport as its not 100% based on skill.

Darts, Snooker etc will always be more of a sport than poker for that reason.

However judging by that thinking I would have to say Chess is a sport which I dont think it is..so who bloody knows lol.

Yes this is true according to this logic chess could be a sport, but I believe athleticism should not be the only factor in if something is a sport. For example is powelifting a sport. If it is I propose we get 5 lb chips, and then it can be really interesting. lol.

Can you say that a 77 to 78 year-old man rolling in and playing on his HoverRound is playing a sport, not to mention being classified as a pro who could possible win it all?

The definition of sport is well-rooted in the English language so I'm not going to challenge it. Here are a few of the definitions:
1) an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
2) Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. www.thefreedictionary.com/sport
3) an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport

Most all the definitions of sport include physical activity, therefore poker is NOT a sport. Poker like Chess is a GAME that conform to a set of rule, requires skill and is played competively but neither of these games actively engage your body.

We could get technical and say that the Olympics are stated as the "Olympic GAMES" not Olympic Sports therefore both poker and chess should qualify for competitions.

I would consider a game of skill rather than a sport. I think there must be physical activity to be considered a sport.

This is a very good point. If we argue that sports require skills, rules, and competitions. Then, both are a sport. The defining difference would only be physical activity.

Often times "sports" players are handicapped according to their level of skill. Poker players do not level the playing field according to their skill. Therefore, poker should be considered purer sports competition.

it is a game, not a sport...though it attracts athletes and those who are fans in one way or another of various sports due to its uncanny level of skill, potential for glory or heartbreak, and the simple fact it gets us pumped up. its more than the thrill of rolling the dice...you're battling how other's play. so it may very well get adrenaline pumping and heart rates up...we just may be drinking beer and eating a pig while we're at it

Consider these questions:

- Is chess a sport?
- Is backgammon a sport?
- Is video gaming a sport?

If you answer no to these questions, then the answer has to be no for poker as well.

I'm not even going to jump into this debate again.

I would have to go with it's a game of skill,,, playing tournaments requires some endurance and mental focus,,,so is NASCAR a sport? I guess there's alot more physical skills involved. This is a question you could ask a hundred people and get a hundred different answers.
Take care

They broadcast the WSOP on ESPN so it must be a sport. Using the same reasoning, the National Spelling Bee must also be a sport.

Anyone who says chess and poker aren't sports doesn't know what they're talking about. Of course they're sports.
Sports don't have to be physical. They just have to be skill games played on a widespread level highly competitively.

Poker is a game of LUCK, those are games of skill atleast Chess is.
And lets keep it at this because if poker was a game of skill and not luck we would all have to Have taxes on our winnings!

Xavier,

If you read the Dictionary Definition of what a sport, then no, they are not sports.

Unless you consider throwing you chips into the pot physical exertion. But then so would competative eating, be considered a sport.

In my eyes chess and checkers are sports so Poker is also a sport.

How about the "License Plate Game"?

I have heard numerous times from poker commentators on television referring to poker as a sport. I love poker but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. A sport is that activity that requires physical ability and dexterity and where you compete against others. Although poker does cover the part in where you have to compete against other people, it is no where near the main purpose of a sport. No one can compare the World Series of Poker and the Stanley Cup for example, sports are performed by athletes and if some athletes also like to play poker then is a just a mere coincidence.

Poker requires no physical ability whatsoever, no one runs, lift weights, swings a bat or runs after a tennis ball, I''ll pay to see if Greg Reimer or Phil Hellmuth can run a marathon or play a soccer match. The only thing poker can be seen to have in terms of physical ability is having to play for long periods of time, but that’s more endurance than anything else. But, if you look at it, you can do anything for a long period of time, even scratch your bellybutton, all you need is the time and the perseverance to do it. The reason why I am opposed to those who call poker a sport is because if you call poker a sport, then chess, rock paper scissors, backgammon, dominoes, and all other card games for that matter have to be called sports as well and then you have to start calling the casinos and poker rooms “stadiums”, “fields” or “courts”… In my opinion, the term sport is being used too loosely nowadays. Ask yourself if playing online poker represents any physical or cardiovascular activity. Poker is a great game and that’s what it should stay as: a game.

From wikipedia:

Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determinant of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports (a common name for some card games and board games with little to no element of chance) and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors.

As it says sport is used to describe card games and board games, although more commonly applied to to physical activities.

Bridge and chess are recognised as sports by the International Olympic Committee

I also say it's a sport but I wouldn't like to see poker, chess and other "mind games" in olympics.

Anyway all sport games need luck. Nice/bad referre, weather, audience etc...all affect it.

If people have to ask whether poker is a sport or not...then it's safe to say it's not on, let's not kid ourselves.

in my mind poker is a sport.. Like i said... In my mind lol

ALthough poker is not a sport, Sport doesn't always require physical activity. For instance, starcraft is considered electronic sports. If it's a game where skilled player will always beat unskilled player every single time, then it's considered a sport.

Poker is a sports game.

I'm not gonna criticize or debate with people over this thread because everyone has different view. But in my view, poker cannot be considered a sport. Even bboying isn't considered a sport although it takes tremendous amount of physical training and ability to adapt to the music. If bboying cannot be considered a sport, then poker is definitely not a sport. Just to simply think about it, can poker qualify for olympics? It won't even make it to nomination list. There are sports that are nominated to become olympic sports but cannot qualify, such as muaythai, karate, American football, lacrosse, etc. Poker won't even get nominated to even make it into nomination list.

Wow this is such a crazy topic, I am glad I am getting so many responses. But anyways. Common guys who can consider curling a sport. Rolling a big iron across some ice, that has the same amount of physical activity as poker, and its in the olympics.

Nope, not a sport. Even though sometimes I think I am gonna have a heart attack from some hands, it's not due to physical exertion. To me, "sports" have a strong element of physical skill. The physical exertion that comes from me leaping up from my chair and stomping around is not skillful. The manipulation of chips and skillful tossing of chips and cards is not sufficient physical skill/exertion to turn poker into a sport, as the challenge of poker is unrelated to the ability to do any physical acts.

Poker is a game. It is, or can be, an intense, stressful, enjoyable exercise in mental acuity, math, and applied psychology. It pits skill against the vagrancies of luck and the abilities of the other players. It's a pretty cool game. But not a sport.

Perhaps it was more of a sport in the days when most of the players carried guns and there was a chance you might have to run away with your winnings or become embroiled in a fight... or a shootout. The necessary skills back then included physical ones.

Unlike most others who posted, I would consider this a sport. It is a different kind of sport in that it's just a card game, but when it really comes down to it you are competing against others to achieve a common goal, and that's a pretty basic concept of professional sports.

QFMFT

Don't Believe everything you read in Wikipedia.

And just because the olympic commitee BELIEVES bridge and chess are sports does not make it so. They should consult a good dictionary.

Poker is shown on my sports channel. QED. I rest my case.

So is, likely, competative eating.

I have seen some wacking stuff shown on a sports channel that, well, weren't really sports.

And most sports channels have talk shows all day. That doesn't make those shows sports either.