Poker as a sport?

[Daniel72]

Poker is a sport especially the tournament poker.

But not a team sport (!), said the great Abe Limon (twitch streaming poker pro),
...it is you and your mind, your bankroll, your abilities, your chips, your cards etc. against the other players....

 

[ScottieDuncan]

Tournament has to be considered a sport. You have to be in shape - physically and mentally, just like other sports.

 

[PpOlKaEyRer]

I would like to elaborate on vwls' post.

Yes, many people consider poker a sport but I personally do not. I also don't consider chess a sport.

Poker is a game, a competitive game to be exact. Not all games are sports and not all sports are games.

The dictionary defines "sport" as the following:
Sport - an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

By the literal definition, poker is clearly not a sport. You simply do not physically exert yourself.

But, just to entertain the discussion - let's say "sport" did not require physical exertion.

Again, poker is a game - not a sport. If you consider poker a sport then you would also have to classify Magic The Gathering, Pokemon, Yugioh, video game tournaments, competitive checkers, etc as sports as well.....

We run into a problem trying to determine whether poker is a sport or not because it is a game of skill and it is also mentally taxing.

For me, when it comes down to it.... poker is a competitive game of skill that exhausts mental effort. It is, unarguably a highly competitive game. But it is just that - game. Not a sport, in my opinion.

Is Darts a sport?

What about curling?

Archery?

Clay shooting?

IMO physical exertion cannot be simply using up more calories than usual.

 

[DionisiyUa]

In the mid 2000's the game was everywhere, fueled by the money of online poker rooms. Poker opportunists were everywhere too. But, there was no vision, just a gold rush - and like any rush, it stopped. Whilst there are more than 100 million casual poker fans in the world, the game suffers from a tainted image that doesn't reflect its reality.

My vision is to change that image and to make people see that not only is Poker a game but it's a sport and great proposition for entertainment too.

In Ukraine, where I Live, poker has become as sport from 2009

 

[EnSabah]

If you can watch in ESPN, then is a sport for me.

 

[CSINSC]

have they already considered 'poker' as one of our sports? cos i will definitely work my way up to represent my country in the olympics. lol

HaHa!!!

To be realistic poker is NOT a sport. The definition of "sports" is an activity that requires physical exertion. I really don't believe sitting on your ass all day is physical exertion. If you thought that then you could label a typist as someone who types all day as someone competing in a sport because she sits on his/her ass all day.

 

[fred_antunes]

It´S A SPORT OF MIND

 

[cleder7]

in poker you have to be lucky too

 

[cleder7]

but of course you know how to play

 

[MaksAnonim]

I think that if you treat poker as a sport, the results will be better!

 

[govno4]

by me poker is not a sport and not be . The game of chance can not be , but in poker luck too often plays a decisive role

 

[dejan85]

I like a sport and poker could be a sport only in way of competition,is more gambaling rather I would say poker should be a casino game

 

[seghill]

Sport - well not an active sport as you are sitting down all the time.

Mind you new zealand's best Olympic Medals have been at rowing and Horse events - hmmmmmm

In poker there is always an element of luck - but in football such as Rugby, NFL, League there is also an element of luck depending on how the ball bounces.

I guess Poker rates in estimation with Bridge, Mah Jong but behind Chess where no element of luck really comes into it.

My local Inland Revenue Department (tax department) rates it as a recreation.

 

[detroitjunkie]

This is a terrible question and should forever be removed. To even consider it a sport is an abomination and an insult to all sports. In a sport, to more physical and coordinated you are the better you will perform, this is not the case in poker at all, EVER. Do not say 'mind sport' because that does not make any sense. Its a game. I have a hard enough time considering golf a sport, let alone bowling, dont just add all games too.

 

[pkrale]

They are both games that involve thinking, concentration and stamina so you could say its a sport. I think the main reason why pepople distance it from sport is the gambling label it has.

 

[detroitjunkie]

They are both games that involve thinking, concentration and stamina so you could say its a sport. I think the main reason why pepople distance it from sport is the gambling label it has.

nonono, absolutely not my reason, has nothing to do with gambling, it has to do with the fact that you can be a fat fat pig who has no dexterity and still be good at it, this is not a sport

is eucher a sport? dominos? checkers?

I am a big sportsman because I play chuts and ladders. COMMON MAN!

Stupidest question EVER

 

[vkillid]

I think it's just gamble

 

[danielbalaci]

I would like to elaborate on vwls' post.

Yes, many people consider poker a sport but I personally do not. I also don't consider chess a sport.

Poker is a game, a competitive game to be exact. Not all games are sports and not all sports are games.

The dictionary defines "sport" as the following:
Sport - an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

By the literal definition, poker is clearly not a sport. You simply do not physically exert yourself.

But, just to entertain the discussion - let's say "sport" did not require physical exertion.

Again, poker is a game - not a sport. If you consider poker a sport then you would also have to classify Magic The Gathering, Pokemon, Yugioh, video game tournaments, competitive checkers, etc as sports as well.....

We run into a problem trying to determine whether poker is a sport or not because it is a game of skill and it is also mentally taxing.

For me, when it comes down to it.... poker is a competitive game of skill that exhausts mental effort. It is, unarguably a highly competitive game. But it is just that - game. Not a sport, in my opinion.

I fully agree with you but I think people want to see poker as a sport because they are tired of football . They want to see something else.

 

[danielbalaci]

I think it's just gamble

Sometimes yes, other times not , depending on how you play , if you play bingo bingo you will get , if you play smart you can get frustrated but you may learn a lot .

 

[Jostone6]

Poker is not sport, intelectual activity yes but not sport

i agree with that.

I think that can come close to being considered sport of the mind, when a player spends several days playing, making the right decisions, bluffing in favorable situations, controlling their emotional and not depending on the luck ... maybe adding all this come near to be considered sport of the mind.

 

[detroitjunkie]

there is no such thing as a 'sport of the mind' - stop glorifying the game, its a game, a mostly skill and some luck game! A GAME A GAME A GAME. Its mentally challenging yes, but that does not make it a sport.

why do you all feel the need to make it a sport anyways? What does it matter? A sport is a competitive physical activity by definition, do you feel the need to justify sitting on your ass all day long? I dont get it.

 

[Fenix7]

The poker is considered member of the IMSA.
It is a game where skill plays a more important role that luck. There are between 120 and 150 million poker players in the world and we deserve this recognition.

 

[Lexxx]

It´s the best sport ever!!! GLGLGL

 

[suricato35]

I don't have a formed opinion whether its a sport or not.
There are some approaches on why it should be considered a sport but on the other hand there are great arguments saying the opposite.

But, if Poker became widely considered a sport, it would be huge. There will be more acceptance from ppl, and the community would only grow from that. So. i hope in the future it will be a sport

 

[tomdugma]

sport when you participate in tournys 8 hours straight