For years and years, poker enthusiasts have been claiming that poker should be considered a sport, and some even went as far as suggesting the game should be included in the Olympics.
To be considered a sport, poker must be a game of skill while requiring players to put in physical effort. And while poker doesn't lack in the skill department, the levels of exertion it requires aren't high enough for everyone's liking.
However, this November, the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) declared that poker will now be a part of the organization. What is IMSA? And how will their decision affect Everygame Poker players?
All About the International Mind Sports Association
Founded in Berlin in 2005, during the General Association of Sports Federation annual convention, IMSA has one goal: to include mind sports in Olympic-styled events.
Back then, José Damiani was the president of the World Bridge Federation (WBF). He joined forces with the World Chess Federation (aka FIDE), the World Draughts Federation (FMJD), and the International Go Federation (IGF), to create a force to be reckoned with.
With a strong push by IMSA, multiple mind sports events have been held worldwide, including the 2008 World Mind Sports Games in China, the 201 WMSG-II in France, and the 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial-Art Games in Korea.
Throughout the years, other organizations joined IMSA, including the World Xiangqi Federation in 2015, the Mahjong International League in 2017, the Federation of Card Games in 2018, and the International eSports Federation in 2022.
And now, the World Poker Federation has joined IMSA as well! Together, all the members of the organization are planning to work towards gaining recognition for mind sports, organizing the World Mind Sports Games while pushing for them to be included in future Olympic plans.
Poker is Now an Official Part of IMSA
The WPF began its journey of joining IMSA in 2022, when it was granted provisional membership. Since then, the World Poker Federation worked relentlessly to establish poker as a recognized mind sport.
Now that poker has been recognized by IMSA, it is more likely for other organizations to view poker as a discipline combining intellect, strategy, and decision-making under pressure – all major requirements of mind sports.
With the backing of the International Mind Sports Association, poker players will have better chances of being recognized as serious contenders for sports events, and it might open new doors for them career-wise on an international scale.
What Does the Future Hold for the Poker Industry?
So, how will joining IMSA affect poker players? Well, for starters, poker players will now be able to participate in Mind Sports events and tournaments, which will provide them with a new opportunity to test their skills.
Those events are less focused on the money-making side of the game, putting strategy and expertise front and center. That is a perfect option for those who enjoy the intellectual part of poker more than the gambling aspect of the game.
In addition to that, being a part of such a big organization will probably open up new opportunities for collaboration between different mind sports organizations, creating new job opportunities and so much more!
And if we are lucky enough, the organization will manage to accomplish what it set out to do: to get poker and other mind sports into the 2028 Olympics!