It appears the Russian are way ahead of the U.S. when it come to understanding poker. Poker has been officially declared a sport in Russia, and is booming in popularity. While the government in the U.S. attempts to drive poker underground, or at least to Las Vegas and gambling halls, the Russians have embraced poker and the game is offered at poker clubs throughout the country.
We may have beat them to the moon, but the Russians are way ahead of us on this issue. Maybe if poker becomes part of the Olympics someday the U.S. will finally wake up to the fact that poker is a sport and should be treated like one.