International Federation of Poker

International Federation of PokerThe International Federation of Poker (IFP) is a non-profit organization incorporated as a legal entity pursuant to articles 60 to 79 of the Swiss Civil Code and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.[1] IFP's stated purpose is to "serve as the global governing body for poker".[2][3][4][5]

History

IFP was founded in Lausanne on April 29, 2009.[6] IFP is structured as an International Sports Federation and is recognized by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Goals

The goals of IFP are to promote the development of poker worldwide and to secure its recognition as a Mind Sport based on strategic skills, played without any discrimination of race, sex and creed. IFP also seeks to assist its member Federations in securing legislation that gives players the right to play poker safely and legally, both online and in bricks & mortar establishments.

Poker’s recognition as a ‘Mind Sport’

In April 2010, IFP secured membership of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) at IMSA's annual congress in Dubai.[7] Through its membership of IMSA, IFP has been invited to participate at the 2011 SportAccord World Mind Games in Nanjing, China.[8]

Internal structure

The supreme authority of IFP is the Congress, the assembly of all the members of IFP on a one-country-one-vote system. Congress meets once a year. The Executive Board[9] of IFP is elected by Congress for a period of three years and is the managing body of IFP. The Board elects a President from among its members for a term of three years, which can be renewed.[10] IFP's current president is Anthony Holden.[11]

IFP's President and Executive Board take counsel, at their discretion, from an Advisory Board of poker luminaries including, among others, Al Alvarez, Doyle Brunson, Humberto Brenes, Gus Hansen, Mel Judah, James McManus and Tom McEvoy.[12]

Membership

Membership in the IFP consists of National Poker Associations and Federations from around the world.[13] The IFP currently has 31 members including the seven founding members.[13]

The seven founding members of the IFP are:

  • Confederação Brasileira de Texas Hold'em (Brazil)
  • Dansk Pokerforbund (Denmark)
  • Fédération Française des joueurs de Poker (France)
  • Stichting Nederlandse PokerBond (Netherlands)
  • Russian Sport Poker Federation (Russia)
  • Ukrainian Poker Federation (Ukraine)
  • UK Poker Federation (United Kingdom)

Additional members are:

  • Asociacion de Poker Texas Hold'em de Argentina (Argentina)
  • Armenian Poker Federation NGO (Armenia)
  • Austrian PokerSport Association (Austria)
  • Belarusian Sport Poker Association (Belarus)
  • Poker Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
  • Bulgarian Federation of Tournament Poker (Bulgaria)
  • Federations Costarricense de Poker Deportivo (Costa Rica)
  • Cypriot Poker Federation (Cyprus)
  • Asociace Pokerových Klubů o.s. (Czech Republic)
  • Estonian Tournament Poker Federation (Estonia)
  • Georgian Sport Poker Association (Georgia)
  • German Federation of Poker (Germany)
  • Magyar Póker Szövetség (Hungary)
  • Pókersamband Íslands (Iceland)
  • Republic Federation of Amateurs and Poker Players (Kazakhstan)
  • Lithuanian Sports Poker Federation (Lithuania)
  • Federación Mexicana de Juegos de Cartas de Habilidad y Deportivas, A.C. (Mexico)
  • Mongolian Sport Poker United Association (Mongolia)
  • Nigeria Poker Federation (Nigeria)
  • Polska Federacja Pokera Sportowego (Poland)
  • Federatia Sportiva Nationala de Poker (Romania)
  • Serbian Poker Federation (Serbia)
  • Poker zveza Slovenije (Slovenia)
  • Asociación Poker de Venezuela (Venezuela)

Notes

  1. ^ "International Federation of Poker: About Us"
  2. ^ http://www.ifpoker.org/about
  3. ^ "Poker Federation seeks global role" Nic Szeremeta, Poker Europa (June 2009)
  4. ^ "International Federation of Poker: Governing Body for the Industry?" Earl Burton, Poker News Daily (September 25, 2009)
  5. ^ "International Federation of Poker established in Lausanne, Switzerland" Lou Krieger, Keep Flopping Aces (June 10, 2009)
  6. ^ "New International Poker Governing Body Established" Brendan Murray, Card Player (June 10, 2009)
  7. ^ "IFP Becomes Member of IMSA" Sportcal: Sports Market Intelligence (April 30, 2010)
  8. ^ "Poker on course for 2011 World Mind Games" Stephen Bartley, IFP News (May 2, 2010)
  9. ^ "International Federation of Poker: Executive Board"
  10. ^ "International Federation of Poker: Statutes"
  11. ^ "Anthony Holden Heads Up International Federation of Poker" Jennifer Newell, Poker Works (June 25, 2009)
  12. ^ "International Federation of Poker: Advisory Board"
  13. ^ a b "International Federation of Poker: Members"

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