Is poker a sport?

[S3mper]

I still think it is a sport...

Playing poker for 12 hours is NOT the same as sitting at a desk working or playing a board game like monopoly for 12 hours

Even if it was what does it matter?

Unless you work with a team or against others for entertainment it is not a sport and that is why its not a sport because you don't "work with a team or against others for entertainment" and that is part of the definition of sport..

I'm specifically talking about tournament poker for a sport ring game poker would be up in the air

Lets look up the definition of a tournament shall we

Tournament-
(in a sport game) a series of contests between a number of competitors, who compete for an overall prize

Again I'm not saying it's a sport like football or basketball but that doesn't mean it isn't a sport

I think chess would qualify as a sport as well

Also the wsop has "Sportsbetting" for players...

 

[woody19]

in my eyes its a sport, it makes you sweat and get excited all at the same time, like many other sports, and there is luck involved. always need some luck in everything sporty

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Also the WSOP has "Sportsbetting" for players...

There's sportsbetting for everything. There's sportsbetting for US Presidential Election. So I guess by your logic, US Presidential Election is a sport too.

Playing poker for 12 hours is NOT the same as sitting at a desk working or playing a board game like monopoly for 12 hours

Playing poker may not be same as sitting at a desk working since poker is an entertainment while desk working is not. It doesn't justify as being a sport. However, playing poker is same as playing a board game like monopoly, or playing starcraft.

Lets look up the definition of a tournament shall we

Go to wikipedia
"A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game"

Poker is a game, not a sport.

Monopoly has tournaments too. Rock Paper Scissor games have tournaments too and they're even shown on ESPN.

Poker has too much variance that it fails to qualify as a sport.

I love poker because it's an awesome skill game but just because something requires skills doesn't qualify as a sport.

 

[Zorba]

No, it is a game played by ballerinas after a workout.

 

[S3mper]

There's sportsbetting for everything. There's sportsbetting for US Presidential Election. So I guess by your logic, US Presidential Election is a sport too.



Playing poker may not be same as sitting at a desk working since poker is an entertainment while desk working is not. It doesn't justify as being a sport. However, playing poker is same as playing a board game like monopoly, or playing starcraft.



Go to wikipedia
"A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game"

Poker is a game, not a sport.

Monopoly has tournaments too. Rock Paper Scissor games have tournaments too and they're even shown on ESPN.

Poker has too much variance that it fails to qualify as a sport.

I love poker because it's an awesome skill game but just because something requires skills doesn't qualify as a sport.

Us presidential elections aren't sports because with sportsbetting because it is not a game for entertainment

I think StarCraft qualifies as a sport (never played the game) but I have played lots of MLG/AGL (Major League Gaming) my game of choice was Halo..

Football is also a game does that mean it's not a sport? 0.o

There is only one way to get a definitive answer here... and that is to have Daniel Negreanu answer the question.. He is the ambassador of poker surely he knows the truth

I also think it depends how you play it like if you are just a casual poker player you're not playing a sport you are just playing a game but when you put in the dedication, time, and sacrifice I think it is a sport

Same with competitive gaming if you just sit and play a game it is not a sport but when you dedicate yourself and sacrifice it turns into a a sport

Now lets reverse it.. Take something that definitely is a sport like basketball if you just shoot around you're not playing a sport you're just playing a little basketball and not playing a sport.

 

[Refinado Tom]

For me the professional poker is a sport. Requires training, strategy, skill and physical care.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Us presidential elections aren't sports because with sportsbetting because it is not a game for entertainment

I think StarCraft qualifies as a sport (never played the game) but I have played lots of MLG/AGL (Major League Gaming) my game of choice was Halo..

Football is also a game does that mean it's not a sport? 0.o

There is only one way to get a definitive answer here... and that is to have Daniel Negreanu answer the question.. He is the ambassador of poker surely he knows the truth

I also think it depends how you play it like if you are just a casual poker player you're not playing a sport you are just playing a game but when you put in the dedication, time, and sacrifice I think it is a sport

Same with competitive gaming if you just sit and play a game it is not a sport but when you dedicate yourself and sacrifice it turns into a a sport

Now lets reverse it.. Take something that definitely is a sport like basketball if you just shoot around you're not playing a sport you're just playing a little basketball and not playing a sport.

You justified in the previous comment that since there's sportsbetting for poker, poker is a sport. I disputed your statement that just because something is done in sportsbetting doesn't mean it's a sport. US Presidential Election is also part of sportsbetting. You can put your money on who will become the next president in 2016. For Romney vs Obama, Obama was favorite to win but you were free to vote for Romney if you thought he would win and if he did, you would've made more money. But as you said, US Presidential Election is not a sport, thus proving my point that just because something is done in sportsbetting doesn't mean it's a sport.

Difference between starcraft and poker is, starcraft is a cyber strategy game with very minimal or no variance involved, just like chess. Better player will ALWAYS win. Not just "over the long run" but ALWAYS. I play against Elky or BoxerSlayer in starcraft, they'll beat me 100 out of 100 times. However, in poker, if I play sng heads-up against Phil Ivey 100 times, I can beat him anytime regardless of what kind of skills he's got. The reason? I can get a heater, I can get rewarded for bad decisions, he can run into cooler, I can suckout, etc. I've seen amateurs beat Ivey easily in full tilt's show called face the ace or something like that.

Football is a PHYSICAL game.

ANYONE, including your great grandparents if they're alive, can play WSOP, WPT, EPT, etc ANYTIME they want as long as they have money.

Can anyone qualify to play at NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, GSL, etc?

See the difference?

 

[yanivgo123]

am i the only one who thinks this debate has kinda blown out of proportion?

 

[S3mper]

am i the only one who thinks this debate has kinda blown out of proportion?

Kind of.. Especially since I don't really have any strong feelings for it one way or the other.. I just like to argue

 

[pistolpetewags11]

It's entertainment and there is a lot of money in it. That's why it is on espn. It's a game, not a sport.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Us presidential elections aren't sports because with sportsbetting because it is not a game for entertainment

I think StarCraft qualifies as a sport (never played the game) but I have played lots of MLG/AGL (Major League Gaming) my game of choice was Halo..

Football is also a game does that mean it's not a sport? 0.o

There is only one way to get a definitive answer here... and that is to have Daniel Negreanu answer the question.. He is the ambassador of poker surely he knows the truth

I also think it depends how you play it like if you are just a casual poker player you're not playing a sport you are just playing a game but when you put in the dedication, time, and sacrifice I think it is a sport

Same with competitive gaming if you just sit and play a game it is not a sport but when you dedicate yourself and sacrifice it turns into a a sport

Now lets reverse it.. Take something that definitely is a sport like basketball if you just shoot around you're not playing a sport you're just playing a little basketball and not playing a sport.

While back in college, I put a dedication, time, and sacrifice working at a lab to distill sucralose in my Ochem class. Some people just took the course just to get by and get the requirements done and get their grade while I took it seriously and wanted to do extra lab work for long-term knowledge. So I guess lab work must be a sport too. I put dedication, time, sacrifice into driving to get to places. So I guess according to your logic, driving must be a sport too. I put a dedication, time, and sacrifice in developing learning concepts for mathematics for my job. So I guess mathematics must be a sport too. I dedicate to it because I make money off them.

US Presidential Election is a huge game, between politicians, how they lobby, win electoral votes, etc. It's a game between Democrats and Republicans. So I guess US Presidential Election must be a sport too since they're also part of sportsbetting.

 

[S3mper]

While back in college, I put a dedication, time, and sacrifice working at a lab to distill sucralose in my Ochem class. Some people just took the course just to get by and get the requirements done and get their grade while I took it seriously and wanted to do extra lab work for long-term knowledge. So I guess lab work must be a sport too. I put dedication, time, sacrifice into driving to get to places. So I guess according to your logic, driving must be a sport too. I put a dedication, time, and sacrifice in developing learning concepts for mathematics for my job. So I guess mathematics must be a sport too. I dedicate to it because I make money off them.

US Presidential Election is a huge game, between politicians, how they lobby, win electoral votes, etc. It's a game between Democrats and Republicans. So I guess US Presidential Election must be a sport too since they're also part of sportsbetting.

Grrr, I didn't wanna argue here anymore (Who am I kidding yah I did lol)

The thing is one of the things I've said earlier like needing to be sacrifice or entertainment, or sportsbetting one of those things by them selves obviously doesn't make it a sport it's when you can add them altogether. Which for poker you can

And @ some one else maybe you I don't remember now but they said that StarCraft has no luck involved (again never played the game so I'm not arguing there cause I wouldn't know) If luck is involved or not I don't think it changes anything.. There is luck in almost every sport,

If poker is or Isn't a sport it doesn't really matter to me my feelings on it aren't strong at all. I just like arguing =) (The good kind of arguing the debating not the yelling or fighting)

P.S. I think StarCraft has luck involved if some one mis clicks or messes up due to human error would be considered luck

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Grrr, I didn't wanna argue here anymore (Who am I kidding yah I did lol)

The thing is one of the things I've said earlier like needing to be sacrifice or entertainment, or sportsbetting one of those things by them selves obviously doesn't make it a sport it's when you can add them altogether. Which for poker you can

And @ some one else maybe you I don't remember now but they said that StarCraft has no luck involved (again never played the game so I'm not arguing there cause I wouldn't know) If luck is involved or not I don't think it changes anything.. There is luck in almost every sport,

If poker is or Isn't a sport it doesn't really matter to me my feelings on it aren't strong at all. I just like arguing =) (The good kind of arguing the debating not the yelling or fighting)

P.S. I think StarCraft has luck involved if some one mis clicks or messes up due to human error would be considered luck

Difference between Starcraft and Poker in the "luck" you're referring to is, misclicks or mess ups are caused by the individuals. Individuals are responsible for those misclicks and messups. In poker, cards dealt are not caused by the individuals. My grandma can make the worst decision in poker and still beat Phil Ivey. Any amateur can beat Phil Ivey on any given day. But in sports or events where luck is very minimal, better player will always win. I can crush Ivey on certain days but I will never beat Elky or BoxerSlayer in starcraft. I can list tons of amateurs who have defeated Ivey in poker.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Grrr, I didn't wanna argue here anymore (Who am I kidding yah I did lol)

The thing is one of the things I've said earlier like needing to be sacrifice or entertainment, or sportsbetting one of those things by them selves obviously doesn't make it a sport it's when you can add them altogether. Which for poker you can

And @ some one else maybe you I don't remember now but they said that StarCraft has no luck involved (again never played the game so I'm not arguing there cause I wouldn't know) If luck is involved or not I don't think it changes anything.. There is luck in almost every sport,

If poker is or Isn't a sport it doesn't really matter to me my feelings on it aren't strong at all. I just like arguing =) (The good kind of arguing the debating not the yelling or fighting)

P.S. I think StarCraft has luck involved if some one mis clicks or messes up due to human error would be considered luck

I honestly don't mind debating. We're just debating and disputing each others comments logically. I just don't view poker as a sport. I used to bboy(breakdance) and train Muay Thai(Thai boxing) until my work got in the way. Try playing real sports. Then you'll see for yourself why poker cannot be considered a real sport. Bboy takes lot of physical training and yet, it's not even considered a sport but rather, an art/dance while thai boxing is a sport.

 

[hpb846]

SPORT = physical competiton of some kind , that should be the defintion , although i admit i dont know or bothered to even look up the true defintion of sport

yes playing tourney poker for hours can definetly be uncomfortable but its not physically exerting , poker is a competition of mental skill , NOT physical ability, therefore it is not a sport

 

[sillymunchie]

an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

needs more then skill.... that was the definition of the word sport btw

 

[RickH1983]

I think a sport is anything that involves physical activity. People probably try to claim that poker is a sport to get their gf or wife off their back for being fat and lazy so they claim they are playing a sport.

 

[trekmaster]

Have you ever seen a donkey chase a card down to the river? Ok maybe thats a bit of a stretch but some time it may invoke you to wanna take up boxing when the donkey chases the flush and hits it on the river lol.

 

[rifflemao]

Poker is a competition.

Poker is war.

Poker is the game of prisoners and presidents.

Poker is fun. I like to play poker.

"Are we going to war?" -Farha

"All in." -Moneymaker

"I need a cigarette." -Farha

 

[T-Dubs82]

no

 

[S3mper]

I honestly don't mind debating. We're just debating and disputing each others comments logically. I just don't view poker as a sport. I used to bboy(breakdance) and train Muay Thai(Thai boxing) until my work got in the way. Try playing real sports. Then you'll see for yourself why poker cannot be considered a real sport. Bboy takes lot of physical training and yet, it's not even considered a sport but rather, an art/dance while thai boxing is a sport.

Whoa now I use to play football an basketball and I wanted to get into MMA but never did, closest to MMA I got was backyard fighting with friends but it is not nearly the same.

 

[ravpl]

I think poker is a sport because you can watch it on tv sports channels
As well as serious poker is a game where people are "fight" between each other for prizes or fun. It some kind of rivalry that we see in sport. That's my opnion.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

I think poker is a sport because you can watch it on tv sports channels
As well as serious poker is a game where people are "fight" between each other for prizes or fun. It some kind of rivalry that we see in sport. That's my opnion.

Rock Paper Scissor is also on sports channel because it's on ESPN.
Monopoly is also a game where people fight between each other for prizes or fun. There's also Monopoly tournaments too.

 

[ravpl]

Rock Paper Scissor is also on sports channel because it's on ESPN.
Monopoly is also a game where people fight between each other for prizes or fun. There's also Monopoly tournaments too.

It was a joke with the sport channel in TV.
I did not know that there are tournaments in the monopoly..
Playing poker, you decide their decisions in monopoly are mostly random factors and lucky
End of the speech

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

It was a joke with the sport channel in TV.
I did not know that there are tournaments in the monopoly..
Playing poker, you decide their decisions in monopoly are mostly random factors and lucky
End of the speech

Monopoly requires skills too. It's matter of how well you manage your properties, how well you are persuasive into making other people trade up their properties and seek slight edge, etc. Although I'm not a fan of monopoly, it's got skills involved as well. More you play and gain experience, better you can maneuver the dynamics of the game around and beat the inexperienced player over and over. It's even got more edge than poker. Poker's variance is lot higher than Monopoly.

Someone can just buy one property of each color and then sell that property overpriced to other player since that other player is desperate to get that last property. Just like there's variance in poker, there's variance in monopoly too where you roll your dice like crap and you keep landing in same location or keep going to jail(sometimes going to jail is a good thing since you can outlast others and they go broke before you).

But just because something is a game that requires skills doesn't mean it's a sport.

But I do feel stupid for failing to catch your sarcasm.

End of speech as well.