The discussion of “sportifying“ poker, a phrase coined by Alex Dreyfus and his Global Poker League, has been going on for some years now, with changing intensity. Dreyfus and others seem to be playing with different ideas on what this sportification should look like and, more importantly, in what way it would help the game outgrow its current confines.
So far, although some ideas have had decent potential, we haven’t seen any significant movements towards achieving this goal. Since this concept has been kicking around for a few years now, the natural question that we must ask is can it even be done and, if yes, should we even bother?
What Does It Mean to “Sportify”?
Often, when this topic is brought up, there are many people who immediately jump the gun, saying it makes no sense. Poker is such an individual and, in some ways, selfish game, that it just can’t fit into the classic terminology of what a “sport” actually is.
However, this argument may not hold water. Over the past few years, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the eSports industry, and these days we have video game tournaments that are being watched by hundreds of thousands.
Some popular games, like CS:GO or Dota 2, attract audiences that can easily compete with many of the traditional popular sports like hockey or football. So, although playing video games seems like such a private and solitary activity, there are clearly many people out there who enjoy watching some of the most skillful players squaring off against each other.
So, why not poker?
After all, poker is primarily a skill game, with elements of luck, and watching the best of the best play against each other can be really thrilling if you love the game. If you don’t, of course, it’s boring, but the same goes for Dota 2. If you have no idea about what’s going on it will hardly keep your attention for more than a few minutes.
Distinguishing poker as a skill game has also been a key development in the game’s legitimization not only as a possible sport, but also giving it legal status that often eludes house casino games. Several judges, including federal court Judge Jack B. Weinstein in 2012, have ruled it as such. In 2013 the US Department of Justice also ruled that the federal Wire Act did not apply to online poker, opening up the floodgates for American-based online gaming sites.
The problem with poker isn’t that it’s a solitary skill activity, which could also be said for golf. The problem is that it is a highly static activity, unlike eSports. Even the best players in the game will sometimes describe their experience observing a poker tournament as interesting as “watching paint dry.”
For a casual viewer, this is not something they want to invest a few hours of their precious free time. There is not enough excitement to make it worthwhile for them. Occasional big bluffs and massive pots simply aren’t enough, especially since they aren’t guaranteed to happen.
Adding Dynamic Elements to Poker
Alex Dreyfus and the GPL aren’t oblivious to poker’s inherent roadblocks. They are aware of the problem, but they are struggling to find a solution. Not for the lack of trying, mind you, but because simply, at the end of the day, poker isn’t a physically active game. It’s also impossible for viewers to see what’s going on inside the players’ heads.
Creating World Cup-like National Poker Teams
So far, they’ve come up with some ideas, like organizing the Global Poker Masters and creating poker teams to compete in the Global Poker League. The premise is, if you can build teams that fans can root for, you can start building a more dynamic environment, where fans keep track of their favorites and are actively involved.
In addition to this, Dreyfus proposed these same players would compete in the live environment, but instead of sitting around the table, they’d have to remain standing all the time, inside a big glass cube, with everything accompanied by the expert commentary to improve the experience for the audience.
Of course, most of those who do love poker found this entire concept somewhat ridiculous. You can’t take a passive activity and turn it into something active by adding random elements that don’t contribute to the game in the slightest.
What’s the purpose of players standing, exactly? Would chess tournaments be more popular if Anand and Karlsen played their Blitz matches having to run around the table three times before they make a move? Even this silly idea makes more sense than to have poker players standing while playing, as it adds nothing whatsoever.
A Different Approach to “Sportification”
Clearly, poker will never be an activity that has crowds of people shouting and cheering their favorite players, yelling “all in” from the top of their lungs in critical situations. However, there is another way to approach “sportification,” and it makes much more sense for poker.
Perhaps poker should forget about competing with traditional sports and look more towards fantasy sports. Here, analysis and predictions are the name of the game, and they are what brings fans together. Now, poker has all the foundations to create an amazing fantasy sports environment, as it is a game based on analysis, stats, and numbers.
Perhaps it is time for the industry to stop trying to forcefully become something it was never meant to be and instead turn towards avenues which actually make sense.