Is Poker a Sport?

While some people consider gambling is not a sport, others claim some games of chance have much in common with football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and numerous other sports. 

It is hard to compare slot machines to a great sport, but when it comes to poker, even critics and doubters shift their opinion. With its complexity and popularity, poker is more like a sport than a casino game.

Poker attracts more and more people no matter what their aim is: whether they want to play it for fun or raise some money. Poker sets the bar higher than any other card game: not only does it require pure intelligence and high IQ, but also patience and mental training.

Besides, according to the Oxford dictionary, poker is the only casino game that can be considered a sport. 

In this article, we want to talk about things that do matter in poker and find out whether it is a real sport or just a casino game.

Poker Requires Skills

Poker is a card game that involves specific skills. It does not require physical exertion, but a player must be ready for a long-running online casino tournament that may last for 7-10 hours. 

Speaking of skills required, we cannot but mention logical thinking, namely mathematical decisions players must make under pressure in a short time.

Winning at poker requires following the next rules: 

• Keep the focus on what’s going on;
• Think about opponents’ cards;
• Read opponents (understand when they have a weak or a strong hand).

Not only should players develop analytical reasoning, but also keep mental awareness. The combination of physical and mental elements makes poker a sport.

Poker Requires Constant Training

Most people believe that poker is about sitting at the table and keeping a poker face. It is far from the truth. 

Poker requires continuous learning. It must be an ongoing process. Sure, you can just read one book or two to understand the rules and general tips, but you will never become a pro. 

Professional players spend plenty of time studying the game and learning new strategies and tactics.

Unlike other sports, poker does not require lifting weights or running, but it’s still very demanding.

Some may argue that it is hard to imagine poker players “training”. When it comes to football or golf, it is clear. But when you try to imagine how pro poker players are training, it is getting hard to do.

It probably happens because you have never seen it before. In truth, the process may be boring: training involves studying numbers and statistics. Professional players may also study their opponents and recognize when they are bluffing.

Training helps players to think outside of the box and find new approaches to common situations during the round. It is a way to get out of their comfort zone and keep an open mind.

Poker is Played for Entertainment

If you are not a professional poker player, you will probably play the game for entertainment. 

Anyone who starts playing poker, understands how entertaining it is.

Every gambler knows how popular poker tournaments are (for example, the World Series of Poker has become a huge success since 2004). It is a very prestigious poker tournament held annually. This event attracts thousands of spectators that can watch a live stream on a smartphone, tablet, or smart TV.

In this sense, poker resembles football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, and numerous other sports.

Verdict

After analysing many facts, there is a clear answer to the question: “Is poker a sport?”. The short answer is yes. You can find many people who disagree. The argument against may be that poker is a game of chance that may cause gambling addiction and money loss. 

Meanwhile, like any other sport, poker requires logical thinking and mental awareness. 

Like professional footballers, poker players have to spend a lot of time studying numbers and learning new strategies and approaches. 

Finally, poker is a form of entertainment like football, hockey, and basketball: it attracts thousands of spectators who may watch live streams from anywhere in the world.

Actually, it does not matter much whether poker is a sport. 

If you want to be labelled as a “sportsman”, feel free to introduce yourself as one.