Online Poker

The question of whether the poker is a game of skill or luck has been debated for decades, and continues to be a talking point throughout the world to this day. While most people will accept that poker is now regarded as a sport, there are still plenty of countries that have yet to acknowledge the distinction.

Today is good day for poker fans in Lithuania. The Department of Physical Education and Sports recently issued an official statement declaring the Lithuanian Sports Poker Federation an official sports federation. The exciting news means that poker can now branch out further into the sporting world, where once it was restricted solely to casinos and commercial events.

The announcement means that the LSPF are given far more leeway in terms of organizing poker tournaments, and that they can do so for non-commercial tourneys outside of Lithuanian casinos.

President of the LSPF Andrius Tapinas was obviously pleased with the decision. "This is extremely important step in our work. We are receiving congratulations from many of our colleagues abroad and I know that we are breaking thick ice with our progress for similar international initiatives."

Over the course of the next week, the LSPF will be collating and then releasing their official tournament schedule to the Lithuanian sports media. World Series of Poker competitor Tapinas will surely turn the announcement into a popular issue in Lithuania; his performances at WSOP and Unibet Open events have been the source of front page articles in his home country, and he also hosts the most popular business TV program in Lithuania.

Keep an eye out for next month's inaugural LSPF event, which will take place in Vilnius over April 24 - 26. If we are to believe Tapinas's prediction for the event, it will be the biggest poker tournament in any Baltic nation.

What do you think about the decision to make poker an official sport in Lithuania? Do you think it will have any effect on other national poker federations throughout Europe and the world? Let us know by commenting below!

- TheDoctor