After years of discussions and months of planning, the Poker Federation of Australia has been officially formed.

The Poker Federation of Australia is affiliated to the global International Federation of Poker (IFP), which is the recognised governing body for the mind sport of poker.

The IFP promotes poker and its Match Poker variation as a game of skill and as a mind sport. Having evolved from its original seven member nations to more than 50 federations, the IFP is now the hub for a thriving world poker community.

The Poker Federation of Australia has compiled an interim board, which combines experience in the poker industry with business and media skills.

The interim board comprises Julius Colman (chairman), Robert Huxley (CEO), Keith Sloan, Garth Kay, Jackie Glazier, Sean Callander, Garth Kay and Steve Putsey, representing a wide range of experience across various areas of poker and industry.

Mr Colman said for the first time, the often-disparate elements that comprise the Australian poker industry can now come together under a single banner.

“We play poker at home, online, in local pubs and clubs and at other venues. Operators may treat poker differently but, for the players, it’s all about the love of the game and the enormous skill required to excel,” Mr Colman said.

“The Poker Federation of Australia aims to harness this passion for the game and provide a range of opportunities never before made available to the poker players of Australia.”

“We are committed to fulfilling the requirements for membership of the IFP, namely to be registered as a non-profit organization, to actively support the promotion of poker, and to generate representative activity in poker at a national level.”

“As Harvard law professor Charles Nesson, founder of the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society said, ‘poker is not just a game of skill, it is a game that hones a wide range of human skills that can be helpful in confronting a variety of life experiences. It’s a great way to learn and practice the skills of seeing what things look like from another person’s point of view’.”

The Poker Federation of Australia expects soon to release details of its first Match Poker events, which will provide local players with the chance to represent the first ever “official” Australian tournament poker team to wear the green and gold in IFP-sanctioned international tournaments.

The Poker Federation of Australia is also pleased to announce a media partnership with PokerMedia Australia, which will act as the unofficial home of the Federation while its own website is being developed.

More details of Poker Federation of Australia initiatives and events will be announced in coming weeks – details will be posted at http://www.pokermedia.com.au/category/181-federation.aspx. Also check out the Poker Federation of Australia Facebook page.