The Prague Post today reported that the Czech Association of Poker Clubs (CAPC) has hired consultants from Ernst & Young to help lobby the government to recognize poker as a sport. The report says that, as a result of this lobbying, the Finance Ministry will soon introduce a “lottery act” to streamline national regulations for gambling.
While it is unknown if current restrictions on poker will be lifted — the game can only be played outside of casinos if there are no monetary stakes — the paper reports that ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Chocolová said, “The Finance Ministry does not recognize [poker as an] …official sport. The association is trying to exempt poker tournaments from the lottery legislation. These poker tournaments are the phenomenon of the past two years, and [permission is given] just for tournaments in casinos.”
The CAPC estimates that 60,000 Czechs play poker, with roughly 1,000 organized into 19 official clubs across the country.
