01 Mar 10

IOC Skill Game List to Include Poker

Poker will be recognized as a game of skill by the International Olympic Committee, when the International Federation of Poker joins the International Mind Sports Association (the IMSA) in April.

Picture source: Aftonbladet.se

Poker will now join games like chess, bridge, checkers and go when it is added to the International Olympic Committee's list of skill games later this year.

IOC's recognition of poker does not mean that poker will be included as a competitive event in the upcoming Olympics.

However, the IMSA will be organizing the World Mind Sports Games in conjunction with the 2012 London Olympics. Poker is likely to feature as one of the events there.

A fantastic breakthrough for poker

The IMSA announced that it will grant the International Federation of Poker membership from April this year.

In an interview with Swedish magazine Afton Bladet, IFP president Anthony Holden (pictured right) said: "That we get the same status as chess and bridge as well as being acknowledged by IOC is a fantastic breakthrough."

"Poker is not like many other casino games and we don't deserve that status. It is a social game where you play against each other, not against the house and where skill definitely plays a bigger role than chance." added Holden. "There are an estimated 120 to 150 million players around the world and we deserve an acknowledgement."

This development should aid in clarifying poker's status as a game of skill when its status is debated in court. It should also make it easier to set up private poker clubs in many countries where the game is currently monopolised by the state.