Should poker be considered a sport? Many argue that poker requires skill, strategy, and mental endurance, so making it a legitimate sport shouldn't be a problem at all. Others claim it's just a game of chance. Where do you stand?
It's as much a sport as chess, so I don't see why it wouldn't be. However, though, gambling has a bad rep, associated with a low-life culture, no offense to anyone, so it could be uphill battle for acceptance.
Anyway, jazz music was once associated with low-life culture, but now it's considered an art form (and a snobby one at that sometimes), so anything is possible.
The classification of “sport” can vary based on perspective. If you define it as a form of physical exertion, then it may not qualify as a sport but instead be considered a mental game. However, if you view a sport as a competitive activity that entails strategy and skill, then it certainly do the trick.