According to the AP, a Harvard professor has proclaimed that poker should be seen as an educational tool that can build strategic thinking skills.

"It teaches life skills, it teaches numeracy, risk assessment, resource management, and it teaches a lot about psychology," Harvard Law School's Prof Charles Nesson said at an internet conference.

The statements were made during the announcing of a plan to offer workshops to schools and universities worldwide.

Poker "teaches you to rely on yourself, assess the situation yourself and make the play," Prof Nesson said. He said he is forming a "global poker strategic thinking society" that will offer poker workshops. The society would be started at Harvard, Prof Nesson said.