One of the main reasons poker is not a sport and might never be considered a sport is a fact anyone can win. You don't get that in any other individual sports, short-term or otherwise. Nadal always beats John Doe with one hand tied behind his back, and Carlsen will defeat any chess enthusiast while watching a TV and having a snack.
Most professional players tend to think that poker is a kind of sport. Indeed, poker has every reason to cater to sport: tournament structure, rivalrous aspect and variety of games.
Those, who aren't closely familiar with the game, suppose that poker should be considered a gambling game, i.e. a game which success is defined by pure luck. And this is not surprising, as most of beginners attribute their pitfalls to bad luck, however, not to the lack of professionalism. Of course, there's a strain of luck in poker, but on closer inspection only. In the long run, only the professionalism of the player holds cards in poker.
- 10 Reasons why Video Gaming should be Considered a Sport. Video games have been steadily increasing in popularity since the 1980's. Atari hit the market with a vengeance, changing the way kids spend their afternoons and weekends.
- A sports car can make mountain passes at the speed limit quite a lot more fun. They give you extra capability in terms of passing, and occasionally in terms of avoiding problems. They might let you push your speed a bit higher on a tight turn.
The strain of luck is the very thing that attracts recreational players, as everybody believes that learning all rules of poker enables you to join tables and play as an equal against professional players, who have previously spent hundreds of hours studying different aspect of the game.
Many classify poker as a gambling game simply for the fact that this is a money oriented game. Yet still take tennis tournaments for example - the overwhelming majority of such tournaments require admission fees and the strongest players usually become winners. How come 'usually'? Because the strain of luck cannot be ignored either.
Poker and the Olympic games
So what is poker nowadays: a kind of sport of a gambling game? At some point, the editorial director of Poker Player magazine - Dave Woods - was trying to see into the matter in one of his publications.
It turned out that in 2005 several poker promoters in the UK along with a sports manager Barry Hirn were getting their teeth into including poker into the Olympic Games program when in London 2012.
Why Is Poker Not A Sport
'Right now poker is one of the most popular kinds of sport in the world and that's why it deserves to be included in the Olympic Games program', - insisted Hirn. Should you ever take insurance in blackjack winnings. Barry also compared poker to synchronized swimming adding that poker can suggest much more to the public.
Why Is Poker Not Considered A Sport Team
The fact that poker wasn't eventually included in the Olympic Games program is no way a sign for poker not to be classified as a sport. Wood takes karate, squash, golf, roller sports, rugby for example which were at their time rejected by the Olympic committee while being professional and amateur kinds of sport at the same time.
According to Collins English Dictionary sport is a group or individual activity in a form of exercises of as entertainment which involves physical training and competitive game.
'Poker answers this description as much as the 'Monopoly' game does'- suggests Woods. Poker doesn't involve physical training; however, no one will argue billiards or dart to be kinds of sport.
The fact that poker will finally be considered a sport will facilitate those who wish to legalize it worldwide. According to Alex Dreifus, the head of Global Poker Index, this is the only way to legalize it in all countries. It's also expected that television companies will benefit greatly as WSOP broadcasts on ESPN channel draw very big audience.
Reddit website took up an opinion poll to reveal that 460 people considered poker the 56th out of 56 activities which can be considered a sport. What casinos don't want you to know about slot machines jackpots. With 10% only it was outperformed by chess and checks.
Poker in Russia
Poker has cause mixed feeling in Russia as well. Thus, on March 16, 2007 Vyacheslav Fetisov endorsed a law acknowledging poker as a kind of sport in Russia. Sport Poker Federation was strongly promoting this decision. Nevertheless, poker didn't enjoy this status for long in Russia: as in two years Russian minister of sport and tourism, Vitaliy Mutko, signed an executive order to deprive poker of this status.
And what's the net result? The administration is tough to disclaim poker's sport status with poker organizations at the same time doing their best to change it.
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I was reading this article a while back and have been meaning to write on this topic. So after arriving in Scottsdale, Arizona and venturing out to the infamous Casino Arizona to play there 3-5 $150 game. I over heard a bunch of young poker enthusiasts talking about 'Why Isn't Poker Considered A Sport'. This instantly shot ideas in my head and reminded me, that I had to write on this topic.
Why Isn't Poker Considered A Sport; true there are many similarities in both, but lets be honest here I think poker should only be considered a game of skill.
Here are 10 reasons why poker should not be considered a sport! Casino reims paixnidia.
- No poker player has ever been sidelined from an injury or failing any sort of drug test. (This does not include Eskimo Clarks double heart attacks in the 2006 World Series Of Poker)
- Excessive celebration in sports results in an unsportsmanlike penalty, rather in poker you are given TV time.
- In sports most announcers were great players, rather in poker they are not.
- In sports using the F-word is perfectly fine and trash talking is a part of the game. In poker you will be penalized for any of this.
- Not one poker player has successfully executed the infamous 'Lambeau Leap'
- In sports you are cheered on by thousands of fans. In poker you are cheered on by investors/backers, people whom you owe money and people who want to borrow money from you.
- In sports if you play poorly you are benched, sent to the minors, waived or traded. In poker if you play poorly they tell you, you can come back as often as you like. Especially in cash games.
- There is no crying in sports, but in poker everyone seems to cry when they lose a hand.
- In sports you endure physical stress on the body. In poker the only physical stress you endure is out sitting your opponents at the table.
- In Sporting events the favorites usually win. In poker the favorites rarely do.
This is why poker will never be considered a sport and only a game of skill!
