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Poker reclassified as sport in Russia

2007-04-05 17:01:14

Russian authorities have reclassified poker as a sport rather than a gambling pursuit, paving the way for online versions of the sport to flourish in the country.

The Russian Federation's Federal Agency of Physical Culture and Sports made the decision following lobbying from several organisations, PokerNews has reported.

Speaking to the poker website, Dmitry Lesnoy, head of an organisation set up to promote poker in Russia, hailed the change in the law.

"It is so pleasant that with the general background of persecution from the government towards gambling, the state still revealed wisdom and agreed with a factor, that poker can not belong to the category of gambling. It is a sport!" said the Sports Federation of Russia president.

The ruling means that poker is likely to be exempted from the four gambling zones currently being set up around Russia.

Russia even has its own variant of the game, which combines the rules found in five and six card versions.


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