Best Online Poker Sites in Australia December 2024

Written By Dan Smyth |

Updated on 06 December, 2024

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Even though there’s some uncertainty regarding the status of poker in Australia, real-money games are readily available, and online poker in Australia is thriving.

The trick is finding the right places to play. I’ll be sharing what the best online poker sites in Australia are and how you can get maximum value from them.

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Top Sites for Online Poker in Australia

There are many aspects to consider when looking for the best real m0ney poker sites in Australia. This includes game types, bonuses, number of players, ease of access and lots more.

Let’s start with one of the most exciting features of any Australian poker site: bonuses!

Best Australia Poker Bonuses

Don’t sleep on bonuses when you play real money online poker in Australia, because the value can add up over time and tip the scales in your favor.

Here are the bonuses you can claim at the best online poker sites in Australia:

Sign-Up Bonus

All real-money Australian poker sites give new customers a reward when they join. Some sign-up bonuses require deposits, while others don’t. Whether you can claim no deposit bonuses or deposit bonuses, there are two things to consider:

  • Total value: Think about the maximum bonus amount – and whether it comes with extra perks, like tournament tickets.
  • Wagering requirements: If you need to make a deposit, check that the minimum amount is sensible (between $10 and $30). Also consider the playthrough requirement, i.e., the amount you need to pay in rake to release your bonus or a percentage of your bonus.

Rakeback

Rake is a contribution you make each time you play cash game pots and enter tournaments. Rake keeps the poker site running and generates revenue for the operator.

Most of the top online poker sites in Australia give you back a percentage of your rake contributions. These payments are made in cash which is ready to withdraw. The very best Aussie poker sites give you upwards of 30% rakeback.

Poker Tickets

Tickets give you free access to poker tournaments. These events are usually freerolls or low-stakes tournaments. However, some tickets can be used for satellites that give you a chance to win seats in big-money events.

Refer-a-Friend

Send family and friends to your favorite Aussie online poker rooms for a chance to get rewards. Usually, as long as your referrals use a special link and/or code and complete the wagering requirements, you’ll both receive a bonus.

Australia Poker Formats

When it comes to Australia poker online, there are two main formats: cash games and tournaments. The fundamental rules remain the same, but the value of chips and overarching aims differ.

Cash Games

Cash games have three defining features:

  • The chips in play have a cash value; e.g., a $1 chip is worth $1.
  • Games are ongoing, and players can either sit down or leave whenever they want.
  • The blinds don’t increase or decrease.

Your aim in cash games is to make a profit. You might play for 15 minutes and leave or grind for hours. The choice is yours.

The typical cash game buy-in when you play online poker in Australia is 100 big blinds. So, if the big blind is $1, people usually buy in for $100.

Playing cash games will suit you if…

  • You enjoy playing deep stack poker with at least 100 big blinds.
  • You want the freedom to start and stop whenever you’re ready.
  • You don’t want the pressure of increasing blinds.

Tournaments

Poker tournaments are significantly different to cash games:

  • The chips in play don’t have a cash value; they’re simply tokens that keep you in the tournament.
  • You’re out of the tournament when you lose all of your chips.
  • The blinds increase at set intervals.
  • Tournaments have set start times and continue until one player has all of the chips in play.
  • A certain percentage of players win some money (usually 10%-20% of the starting field).

Your aim in tournaments is to survive long enough to get “into the money.” You have to contend with increasing blinds, gradually smaller stacks (in relation to the blinds), and being moved to new tables.

The longer you survive, the more you win. Payouts are top-heavy, which means the winner receives the biggest share of the prizepool.

Tournaments will suit you if…

  • You enjoy competitions where one person wins the biggest prize.
  • You’re comfortable with decreasing stack-to-blind ratios.
  • You want big returns on your investment, e.g., a $10 online poker tournament might have a $1,000 top prize.

Online poker tournaments in Australia can be subdivided into the following categories:

MTTs

Otherwise known as multi-table tournaments, MTTs have set start times. Tables have to remain balanced throughout, which means players are moved around as people are eliminated.

SNGs

Sit and Go tournaments (SNGs) are on-demand. They don’t have set start times, which means the game begins once a table is full.

When you play real money online poker in Australia, you’ll have the choice between six-max and full-ring SNGs with fixed payouts. Alternatively, you can play jackpot SNGs that have random prizes. In a very small number of cases, the cash prize can be worth up to 10,000x the buy-in.

Satellites

Satellites are tournaments that award the top finishers with entry into another event. For example, you could play a WSOP satellite on ACR that costs $100 to enter.

The winner might receive a free seat in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event. In essence, satellites are cost-effective stepping stones into bigger tournaments offering better prizes.

Online Poker Games in Australia

There are plenty of ways to play online poker in Australia for real money prizes. Everyone has their own preferences and talents, which is why it’s worth understanding all of your options.

Some games aren’t available at the best online poker sites in Australia. I’ll cover those in the final section. The games you can play are as follows:

Texas Hold’em Poker

  • Number of hole cards: Two
  • Community cards: Yes

If you’ve not seen Hold’em, you’ve probably not seen people playing poker. This variant is used for the biggest events in poker, including the WSOP Main Event.

Everyone gets two hole cards they can combine with any of the five community cards. The beauty of Hold’em, particularly No Limit Hold’em, is how creative you can be.

From bluffing to value betting, there are plenty of ways to win pots in this type of poker.

Hold’em is so popular that it even has spinoffs, such as 6+ Hold’em and Pineapple.

Omaha

  • Number of hole cards: Four
  • Community cards: Yes

Omaha is Hold’em times two, because you’re dealt double the hole cards. This, combined with the fact you need to use two of your four hole cards, dramatically increases the number of hands you can make.

More possible hand combinations mean your average hand strength at showdown needs to be higher. Put simply, hands get counterfeited more easily in Omaha than Hold’em. This creates more volatility and, therefore, more action.

For even more action and entertainment, try Five-Card Omaha.

Stud

  • Number of hole cards: Seven
  • Community cards: No

Players who prefer games without hole cards should try Stud. This classic poker variant requires you to make hands from your own collection of cards.

In Seven-Card Stud, the most common variant, you’ll receive up to seven cards, three of which are dealt face-down and four of which are face-up.

The skill in Stud is understanding the odds of making hands and noting the cards other players have been dealt.

Other Ways to Play Poker Online in Australia

The following variants aren’t widely available at the top Aussie poker sites right now, but they’re still worth knowing about.

  • Five Card Draw: Everyone receives five cards with the option to hold or draw. A second betting round takes place after the draw, and if two or more players remain in the pot, a showdown takes place.
  • Razz: Fans of Seven-Card Stud poker should try Razz. This variant values low hands over high hands. Flushes and straights don’t count, which means the best hand in Razz is A-2-3-4-5.

Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Australia?

You can play poker for real money in Australia, but the legal landscape has a few nuances you need to be aware of.

Online Poker in Australia for Real Money

Technically, online poker in Australia has been illegal since 2001. But this doesn’t mean you can’t play poker online in Australia.

As per the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and subsequent amendment in 2017, real-money online poker is illegal. However, this law applies to companies that “offer or advertise gambling services.” In other words, it applies to Australian poker sites.

So, if we work on this basis, it’s possible to play poker online in Australia because the law relates to companies and not individuals. Supporting this assumption is the fact that very few people have been prosecuted for using offshore poker sites.

The main issue Aussies have when they want to play real-money online poker in Australia is making deposits and withdrawals. Australian banks are covered by the law, which is why I recommend using cryptocurrencies at the best online poker sites in Australia.

Tax on Australia Poker Winnings

You don’t have to pay tax on your poker winnings in Australia. The Australian Tax Office clearly states that you “don’t need to declare your gambling winnings as income” if you’re not a professional.

Even if you are a professional, it’s possible to deduct losses from your income. Moreover, offshore Australian poker sites aren’t required to provide financial reports to the Tax Office. This means there isn’t necessarily a requirement for you to do so either.

Crypto Poker in Australia

I’m a fan of bitcoin poker sites, as you already know. Aside from the fact that they offer instant withdrawals and anonymous gaming, they’re the ideal way to make payments.

The ambiguity surrounding online poker in Australia and which party the legal onus is on means that banks typically block payments. This doesn’t happen with crypto poker sites in Australia, because they’re decentralized.

That means no single authority controls transactions. Instead, transactions are processed via a blockchain. That’s why cryptos are universal currencies that can be freely transferred by anyone at any time.

Crypto poker in Australia gives you a lot more freedom.

How We Rank Australia’s Best Poker Sites

I know what it takes to become a top-tier Australian poker site. I’ve been around the block countless times over the last 10+ years and played on dozens of sites.

The following checklist will help you find the top places to play online poker in Australia:

1. Security

All Australian poker players should value security above everything else. I know bonuses are great, but accepting unnecessary risk when you’re playing real-money poker in Australia is senseless.

Ensuring the site you’re using is licensed by a reputable regulator such as Curaçao eGaming is one quick way to tell if an Aussie poker site is secure. Regulators have strict guidelines regarding data encryption, payments, and game integrity.

When you combine an online gambling license with blockchain technology, things are even more secure.

2. Player Pool and Traffic

Players are the lifeblood of all online poker sites in Australia. The beauty of using offshore Aussie poker sites is that they have international player pools.

This means games run 24/7 and not just at times suitable for Australian poker players. Having plenty of players is important, but the right type of players is essential if you want to win more.

My favorite Australian poker sites have features that appeal to fish (i.e., weak players).

These features help attract players you may have a better shot at beating compared to seasoned grinders.

3. Bonuses and Promotions

Bigger bonuses aren’t always better, but getting a healthy chunk of credit is always nice. The most gratis cash you’ll receive is during the registration process, so take a close look at an Australian poker site’s welcome bonus.

Subsequent deposit bonuses (aka reload bonuses) offer irregular bankroll boosts, which is why I use rakeback as a mark of quality. Getting regular cashback based on the amount of rake you contribute tells me how generous a poker operator really is.

Finally, the terms and conditions reveal the true value of online poker bonuses. For me, the best offers have low wagering requirements. This means you don’t have to pay a lot of rake to convert bonus credits to withdrawable cash.

4. Fast Withdrawals

I hate waiting for my winnings when playing online poker for real money in Australia. I understand that processing times are necessary to ensure payments are legit and secure. However, it shouldn’t take more than five days to get your money.

The fastest way to get your money is to play crypto poker in Australia. The average processing time for crypto withdrawals is 60 minutes, which is significantly faster than fiat payments.

5. Poker Apps

You can play online poker in Australia using desktop and mobile devices. Those who prefer to game on the go typically gravitate towards apps.

Australian mobile poker apps should be secure, reliable, and give you access to a full selection of services via iOS and Android devices.

Some real money poker sites in Australia don’t have an app, but get a pass because their mobile sites are incredibly slick. So, while apps are often better, don’t disregard a platform just because it only has a mobile site.

How to Play Online Poker for Real Money in Australia

You now that you can indeed play online poker in Australia, and have seen why the best online poker sites have their stellar reputations.

Before you’re ready to ante up in the fishiest games, I want to share my three steps to success.

If you follow my tried-and-tested process, you’ll have a better shot at getting maximum value each time you hit the tables.

Step 1: Join a Top Australian Poker Site

The first step is to join a high-quality Australian poker site.

Use them to get a feel for what’s available. From there, tap our secure links to register. If you join multiple Aussie poker sites, you’ll have more flexibility to sniff out the biggest guarantees and juiciest bonuses.

Step 2: Play Free Online Poker in Australia

I suggest playing free online poker in Australia before risking any cash. Play-money games allow you to try different variants and formats using chips that don’t have any value. The only downside to these games is that you can’t win any money.

Therefore, if you want to experience the rush of playing for cash (along with the associated sense of competition that comes with it), I recommend freerolls. The top online poker sites in Australia have daily freerolls, which have prizepools topping $2,500.

Step 3: Real Money Poker in Australia

Once you’re comfortable with the basics of how to play online poker in Australia, it’s time to ante up for real. Make your first deposit and start with the lowest-stakes games you can find.

At the best Australian online poker rooms, you can enter tournaments costing less than $1. Alternatively, you can sit down in a $0.01/$0.02 cash game with as little as $2. Use a tight-aggressive poker strategy, and only move up to higher stakes games when you’re a proven winner over time.

Top Tips for Australian Poker Beginners

I can’t make you a winner overnight, but these five poker tips helped me become a solid player during my early days in the game:

  1. Money matters: My top tip for Australian poker players is to treat your bankroll like a member of your family. It’s sacred. Only play games you can afford. The bankroll management rules I recommend for novices are 100+ buy-ins for cash games and 150+ buy-ins for tournaments.
  2. Search for great games: You can be a good player in a tough game and lose. That’s why I look for soft games using table stats. The lobby of any top-rated Australian online poker site tells you how many people are going to the flop and how aggressive they are. Tables with high flop percentages and low aggression scores are probably filled with weak players.
  3. Bank bonuses: Results fluctuate due to variance, but bonuses are constant. That’s why you should claim as many bonuses with generous wagering requirements as possible.
  4. Tight is right: I lived by the motto, “If a hand isn’t good enough to raise with, it’s not good enough to call with,” during my early days in poker. Essentially, it’s a good idea to have a tight starting range, i.e., play a small selection of hands. Starting strong gives you a better chance of taking down pots.
  5. Pick your spots: It’s easier to play when you have position on opponents, but don’t be afraid to play from an early position if you’ve got a strong starting hand. Widen your range the closer you are to the button. If you spot a weak player, try to isolate them to take advantage.

Live Poker in Australia

Poker players from around the world have traveled Down Under for decades thanks to big-money events such as the Aussie Millions.

Even though there are countless benefits to playing online poker in Australia for real money, live games are both social and fun.

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll be able to play cash games and weekly tournaments at these Australian casinos:

  • Crown Casino Melbourne
  • Crown Casino Perth
  • Crown Casino Sydney
  • Star Casino Gold Coast
  • Star Sydney

These casinos, as well as smaller local venues, are great places to play live poker in Australia. For those with aspirations of greatness, major poker tours often touchdown in Oz. The homegrown Aussie Millions at Crown Melbourne ran from 1998 to 2020 and always attracted poker’s finest, including Phil Ivey.

There are rumors that the Aussie Millions may soon return. But even if it doesn’t, international and Australian poker players can enjoy WPT Australia, WPT Prime Gold Coast, APT Sydney, and many more events.

Best Australian Poker Players

The option to play real-money poker in Australia has been around for decades, creating a competitive environment. As a result, we’ve seen the emergence of world-class Australian poker players, including OGs such as Jeff Lisandro and online icon James Obst.

Looking through the latest list of big-money winners, these are Australia’s best poker players right now:

Michael Addamo
Michael Addamo was Australia’s biggest winner at the time of writing and, realistically, he’s going to be top for a while. Playing out of Melbourne, Addamo has won the biggest events online and live. Addamo has EPT, WSOP, Triton, and PokerGO titles, all of which have helped him win over $22 million.
Kahle Burns
Following in the footsteps of Australian online poker legends like James Obst, Kahle Burns has successfully transferred his skills on the virtual felt to the live arena. The Geelong native has won titles at virtually every major event, including the WSOP, Aussie Millions, and Triton Poker Tour.
Joe Hachem
Perhaps the most famous Australian poker player ever, Joe Hachem shot to fame in 2005 by winning the WSOP Main Event. That $7.5 million win earned him a spot among poker’s biggest winners. Since then, he’s taken his tournament tally to more than $12 million.

Best Online Poker Sites Australia – Our Verdict

As an online poker player in Australia, you have more options than you might realise. There are plenty of Aussie poker sites to choose from, and if you make crypto deposits and withdrawals, you should be able to enjoy real money games.

Before you join the best Australian poker sites, here are three things to remember:

  • Always play responsibly and have fun
  • Crypto payments are the safest and easiest way to make deposits and withdrawals
  • You’ll get the most value by playing soft games

Resources

FAQs

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