A Defining Moment
Poker Is Officially
Poker Is Officially
a Mind Sport
On November 16, 2024, the International Mind Sports Association recognized poker, unanimously and definitively, placing it alongside chess, bridge, and Go.
What Happened
Decades of Work
Decades of Work
One Historic Vote
After years of advocacy led by the World Poker Federation, the members of the International Mind Sports Association voted to recognize poker as a mind sport. With that vote, poker became the ninth discipline welcomed into the IMSA, standing alongside chess, bridge, Go, and eSports.
What players had always known became official: poker is a game of skill, strategy, and mental discipline. The recognition was celebrated in São Paulo, during the BSOP Millions, in a night worthy of a historic achievement.
"We have achieved something today that is both unprecedented and definitive. Our mission now is to build the foundation that every major sport already has: standardized regulations, professional pathways, player protections, and international competitions."
"Our focus is on building a true global sports structure for poker. The World Poker Federation was built on the belief that, by joining forces, we can amplify our impact and protect the game we love."
What Recognition Means
A New Stage for Everyone
For Players
Greater career pathways, more recognition, and an expanded international stage.
For the Industry
Enhanced stability and structured growth for everyone who works in the game.
For Partners
A secure, structured environment with new possibilities for sponsorship and partnership.
Poker's Place
Among the World's Mind Sports
Poker now stands, officially, alongside the great disciplines of the mind.
A New Era
for Poker
Recognition is the beginning. Now we build the structure of a true global sport.