World Poker Federation: Poker is an intellectual sport

The International Federation of Poker insists on recognizing poker as a mind sport and is discussing the development of the discipline at the international level.

The World Poker Federation (WPF) continues to promote poker as a mind sport, placing special emphasis on integrity, oversight, and professionalism in tournament organization. Recently, a continental summit was held in Brazil, bringing together key representatives of the Latin American poker industry to discuss current challenges and prospects for the development of the discipline. WPF: Recognition of Poker as a Mind Sport The World Poker Federation (WPF) was established with the goal of achieving official recognition of poker as a mind sport at the international level. According to information from the organization’s official website, this goal was achieved at the end of 2024: the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) officially included poker among the recognized mind sports. Now, the WPF is focusing its efforts on building a solid and ethical foundation for the further development of poker as a sport, comparable in standards to other mind games. Continental TDA + WPF Summit in Brazil In early June 2024, a continental summit was held in São Paulo, Brazil, jointly organized by the WPF, the Tournament Directors Association (TDA), the Brazilian Tournament Directors Association (ADTP), and the Brazilian Poker Federation (CBTH). The event brought together leading industry experts to discuss tournament organization standards and strengthen the professional community. Roberto Lifschitz, WPF Marketing Director, noted that such meetings contribute to the development of the poker community and highlight poker’s status as a mind sport based on skill, structure, and professionalism. According to him, it is the unity of the professional community that allows for the improvement of tournament operations and the maintenance of high standards of discipline. Key participants of the summit included: Devanir “DC” Campos — TDA board member, founder of the BSOP series, long-time ADTP participant, and CEO of Stack Eventos; Alberoni “Bill” Castro — President of the Brazilian Poker Federation (CBTH) and Sports Director of the WPF; Roberto Soares “Bob” — Chief Tournament Director of BSOP, as well as Director of the LAPT and CCTH series; Marcus Junior — Tournament Director of BSOP. Main Topics: Integrity and Oversight The summit discussions focused on two key areas: Player behavior: In light of recent scandals, participants paid special attention to the need for clear and universal standards of conduct at the poker table. It was emphasized that maintaining a competitive environment and the integrity of poker as a mind sport requires stricter intervention in cases of violations. In particular, the creation of global boundaries for acceptable behavior was discussed to ensure fairness and equal conditions for all players. Combating technology: The second important issue was the use of electronic devices and real-time assistance (RTA) software during tournaments. Participants expressed concern about the rise of such practices and discussed measures to counter them, in order to keep poker a game defined by skill rather than technical tricks. Additional topics included the use of shot clocks, late registration policies, the permissibility of speech play, and other aspects affecting the pace, transparency, and overall experience of tournament participants. All attendees agreed that the development of global standards must keep pace with new challenges to ensure that poker remains a game of intellect, skill, and structured competition. Future Plans: Expanding Geography and Strengthening Standards Continental summits of the WPF and TDA have already been held in Asia and Latin America. During the discussions, it was noted that in 2026, the geography of such events is planned to expand further, to involve even more tournament directors, organizers, and representatives of the poker industry in the dialogue. The main goal is to support the long-term development of poker worldwide, strengthen ethical and professional standards, and ensure unified rules for all participants. Who Was Behind the Organization and Development of the Events Leading figures of the Latin American poker community took part in organizing and conducting the summit. Devanir “DC” Campos, known as the founder of the largest BSOP series and a TDA board member, made a significant contribution to shaping the region’s tournament standards. Alberoni “Bill” Castro, President of CBTH and Sports Director of the WPF, is responsible for developing poker as a sport in Brazil. Roberto Soares “Bob” and Marcus Junior, who manage the largest BSOP tournaments, ensure a high level of organization and transparency in competitions. This coordination between national and international bodies allows for a prompt response to industry challenges and the implementation of best practices in tournament operations. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news has practical significance. First, the recognition of poker as a mind sport at the global level increases trust in the game and raises its status among other disciplines. This may lead to an increase in the number of players, the expansion of tournament grids, and new opportunities for development within the clubs. Second, the standards of conduct and anti-cheating technologies discussed at the summit will help make online play fairer and more transparent. Players can expect stricter controls on the use of assistance software and tougher ethics rules, which will have a positive impact on the quality of play in PPPoker clubs. Finally, global cooperation between federations and tournament organizers opens up prospects for integrating the best international practices into club operations. This will allow PPPoker participants to be confident in the high level of organization, fairness, and transparency both in online tournaments and in offline events associated with the platform.