The Debate Continues: Is Poker a Sport in 2024?

Many ask, is poker a sport or just a game? Poker is arguably the most debated game. Offline and online, there are often conversations about what it is and is not.

For example, some consider playing poker to be pure gambling, while those who have truly invested their time and energy in it have said it is not—it takes skill to play the game. However, the multiple competitions held about poker annually and the enormous cash prizes given to winners have raised another concern.

In today’s casino news, we will consider whether poker qualifies as a sport or is still just a game. If you want to master this game, check our online casino guide section to sharpen your skills!

Is Poker a Sport? The Role of Skill and Endurance

To begin this discourse, we need to define sport. But before we do that, note that we are talking about classic games here, not free video poker. With that said, let’s begin.

The French word “Desport,” which translates as leisure, gave rise to the word sport. In English, around 1300, the word meant anything humans find entertaining or amusing. However, this meaning has evolved as time passed. The Oxford Dictionary defines sports as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”

If we follow the 1300 definition, Poker is a sport. According to the World Poker Tour, there are about 120 poker players globally, and this figure only accounts for casino online games participants. This implies that many find poker entertaining and amusing. Moving on to the modern definition, can we say poker is a sport? Let’s pick each applicable term to unravel this.

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Physical Exertion

This online poker or live game version does not involve physical exertion compared to football or rugby. However, chess is considered a sport and doesn’t involve physical exertion. Nevertheless, according to research by Robert Sapolsky, an American neuroscientist, a chess player can burn about 6,000 calories within 24 hours during a tournament, making it physically demanding.

Chess and poker games are very similar when we consider the level of concentration needed and the thought levels they demand. It is said that players burn about three calories per minute when playing poker in tournaments. If we do our math, there are 1440 minutes in a day. So, 3 multiplied by 1440, we have 4320. That gives us a hypothetical figure that, in a tough poker match, players burn about 4320 calories! Therefore, for physical exertion, poker qualifies.

Skill Requirements

Many may still argue, but poker has been deemed a game of skill. After a heated debate in a New York court, a federal judge declared Texas Holdem poker a skill-based game, not gambling. He stated that poker involves an “array of talents,” which is true. Also, the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) recognizes poker as a game of skill, since tracking the poker odds to stay on top is mentally taxing.

Winning in poker requires some level of brilliance. A player must calculate correctly, understand probability, and maintain utmost composure under intense pressure. You don’t play the game just any way; you must follow poker etiquette. To be the best, you must also devote time to practicing. And so often, only those who do these things reach the top. Whether in an online casino or real life, poker leaves no room for mistakes. Once you do, there is always a cost.

Final Considerations

There isn’t an organization given the full weight of power to determine whether or not something’s a sport. However, the International Olympic Committee (ICO) is responsible for choosing the allowed sports in the Olympics. Unofficially, the IOC decides whether or not an activity is a sport.

The organization recognized chess as a sport in 1999 but has yet to do the same for poker. Therefore, officially, poker is not a sport. It is still considered a game, but this can change in the future as it continues to receive the necessary recognition.

The International Match Poker Federation (IFMP) is actively working to see poker added to the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, so it will not remain only as part of casino games. Currently, about 50 national poker federations support the idea of Olympic poker. The IFMP believes poker is a legitimate sport, and with the necessary push and approval, the ICO would have no reason to turn it down.

If this happens by 2028, we can expect poker to take a new trajectory globally, which will offer you the latest updates to keep you in the loop. 

Till then, visit Slots Paradise Casino to enjoy your favorite poker games online, and follow our social media for updates and promotions!