Could women take part?
A landmark event is planned for Saudi Arabia, where the government has sanctioned the country’s first national card-playing tournament for cash prizes.
Saudi Arabia’s General Sports Authority announced that the country will hold the first such competition April 4-8 at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in the capital city of Riyadh.
CalvinAyre.com reports that the contest will be overseen by the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports. The big game among Saudi Arabians is Baloot, described as a popular trick card game similar to the French game Belote. The game is available on multiple Android and iOS mobile apps, which include some of the top game apps in Saudi Arabia.
The top four finishers of the contest will share a total prize purse of SR1 million (US$270,000), half of which will go to the winner.
Conservatives who oppose gambling may be even more surprised to hear that women may take party, according to a Baloot player who spoke to the Arab News.
