Poker: Sport or Not?

Filed in archive Poker on April 28, 2006

Debates don't come more important than this. Is poker a sport or merely some entertaining hobby. USAToday puts the question out to sportsmen and poker players - leading us to believe immediately that poker players actually reside in a different category to, well, sportsmen.

But for those on the 'poker is a sport' side:

• Its shown on ESPN - the SPORTS Network
  


• You can sweat during a hand of poker - like sportsmen sweat
  


• It requires thinking, preparation and sometimes training
  


• Lots of poker players used to play sports
  


• Some poker players still play sports
  


• Many poker players bet on sports
  


• Some poker players may belong to a gym
  


• Some poker players are in good shape
  

OK - its getting desperate here. But whether its a sport or not, it sure is shown on a lot more TV channels and offers more money than a whole lot of other, more traditional 'sports'

Article: Popularity of poker begs question: Sport or not?