Mosnews.com reported that the Russian Ministry of Sports and Tourism has officially excluded poker from its list of sports.
The list which was approved by the Russian State physical training and sport committee on Jan. 1, 2004, came to include poker in 2007. The Russian Minister of Sports and Tourism, Vitaly Mutko, wrote in a report that this was a mistake as the decision should have been made by special Ministry commission and not by the chief of Russian State physical training and sport committee.
With all casinos and gambling halls forced to close in Russia at the start of this month, excluding a few designated (far-reaching) destinations, this new decision comes at a very intense time. Many players believe that this move is just another part of Prime Minister Vladamir Putin’s anti-gambling plan.
This causes concern for how Russian poker will be affected, especially with the European Poker Tour expected to take place there next month.
Russia has produced some great poker players, particularly in recent times, for example live tournament master Vitaly Lunkin, so it would be a shame to see that potential dampened by such movements and restrictions.
