Is poker a game of skill?

Poker has been the subject of a long-running debate: is it a game of skill or simply gambling? Many people — and many legal systems — classify poker as gambling, grouping it with casino games of pure chance. Critics point to the role of luck in card distribution and the money staked on each hand. However, others argue that poker is fundamentally a game of skill, where long-term results are driven by strategy, probability calculation, psychology, bankroll management, and reading opponents rather than luck alone. Several countries officially recognize poker as a sport or a "mind sport." Brazil, Russia, and others have granted it sporting or intellectual-sport status, and organizations like the International Federation of Poker have campaigned for its recognition alongside disciplines like chess and bridge. This market asks the community to weigh in on whether poker should be considered a game of skill — a question that touches on law, mathematics, and what counts as competition.