Minister calls for reclassifying poker

 
Yang Chiu-hsing, a minister without portfolio in Taiwan's cabinet, said that the island should stop classifying poker as gambling to pave the way for the hosting of international tournaments which would draw tourists. The World Series of Poker is considering establishing events in Taipei and Kaohsiung and its local legal representative said a tournament could bring in T$45 million in tourism revenue for local businesses but the group is concerned, based on past cases, about possible legal difficulties unless the government clarifies poker’s legal status. Yang said the prospective tournaments would be run by nonprofit groups.