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International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) Accepts Poker As Mind Sport

More good news for the poker industry: the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) has accepted poker as a mind sport, which is another major step in removing the misconceptions surrounding the game. It happened on November 19th, and now, poker joins games like chess and sudoku on the list.

Mind sports help sharpen the mind and increase concentration, and several of these mind games are considered excellent for honing skills in children. The International Mind Sports Association was founded in Berlin, Germany, on 19th April 2005 and includes nine federations: 

International Mind Sports Association Inductees:

1. World Bridge Federation (WBF)
2. Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames (FMJD)
3. Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)
4. International Go Federation (IGF)
5. The World Xiangqi Federation (WXF)
6. Mahjong International League (MIL)
7. Federation of Card Games (FCG)
8. International eSports Federation
9. The World Poker Federation, which was inducted in 2024.

With this development, poker stands shoulder to shoulder with classic mind sports like chess, mahjong, and bridge and newer sports like esports. This is a landmark development for the poker industry and poker business worldwide. Poker and other real-money games have long been alleged to be gambling.

Each person in this photo represents an entire community that has fought for years to have poker recognized as a mind sport. This victory belongs to all of us.

Together, we’ve made history. pic.twitter.com/k1COym9pjs

— WPF – World Poker Federation (@wpf_Poker) November 17, 2024

The industry has experienced countless litigations, and the resolutions have always been concrete but time-consuming. However, with this induction, there is a chance that allegations about poker games being gambling won’t even reach the courts.

Poker and casino games have gained more acceptance in recent times. Dubai recently granted its first gaming licence to Wynn Resorts, which is already building the Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras-El-Khaima. Also, in Dubai, a company is planning to teach gaming technology in school curriculums, paving the way to make gaming more mainstream than it ever was.

Even in India, gaming is picking up, with various corporations and even state governments hinting at their positive attitude toward it. A Karnataka minister recently said that the southern state could be the gaming capital of Asia. With these developments, it remains to be seen just what kind of boost the real money gaming and poker industry gets in India. 

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ALSO READ: The Cultural Impact of Poker on Modern Gaming Communities

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All this is happening in the background of more and more Indians shipping events, and being on the winners’ lists at the various foreign poker tournaments is adding to the confidence levels of young and aspiring poker players who want to make it to the felts and create a niche for themselves. We will be sure to provide you with any and all news about any such future developments.

Gutshot Magazine provides all relevant information about poker, real money gaming, and the gaming industry. From winners lists to news and updates from corporate and governance that would impact the industry, we have it all. 

For more updates from the poker world, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram

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