Want to know more about Poker in Australia?
As everyone knows, gambling rates in Australia are among (if not, the) highest in the world and four in five adults enjoy some form of wagering. Poker has a polarised reputation with glamour in the casino and hardened drinking poker nights at home with chips and dips.
The truth about Australia’s love affair with the game of poker lies somewhere in between.
Sure, you can catch a game at the casinos or host an event with your buddies over a few cold ones but poker can be both a serious business for professional players as well as a great opportunity to win big bucks for casual gamblers.
In this guide, we take a look at the popularity of poker in Australia and where you can play the game, state-by-state as well as online.
Contents
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Poker in Australia
The saying goes that Australians would bet on two flies crawling up a wall and the nation does have the highest rate gambling in the world. More than 80% of the adult population enjoy some form of gambling; from casinos to sports betting, playing the pokies to taking a punt on the lotto.
Poker enjoys a popularity in Australia that is unrivalled by other forms of gambling, largely due to the game’s combination of luck and skill. Of course, huge jackpots and prestigious tournaments have also helped project a glamorous edge to the proceedings.
But how did poker evolve in Australia, is it legal and why are there so many variations of the game?
History of Poker in Australia
The origins of Poker can be traced to Europe with the 16th century Spanish card game of Primero which was adapted in both France (Poque) and Germany (Pochen).
Primero was a three-card game, played with forty cards in which players gambled on getting the highest hand with bluffing being a key element.
French settlers brought the game of Poque to the United States where it flourished in Franco areas like New Orleans. The first anglicised version of poker has been dated to the early 19th cenury when English speaking settlers moved to the area after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Poque became Poker and began to exhibit similarities to the modern game; poker became a five-card game by 1834 with the addition of a 52-card deck.
Poker spread from the Southern states along with migration of settlers and transportation of goods to the West. By the late 19th century, Poker was a key feature in the saloons of the frontier settlements.
Around the same time, in 1871, the game was brought back to its original home in Europe. The story goes that Queen Victoria overhead the U.S. Minister for Great Britain explaining the rules to court officials and insisted on him teaching her the game.
It would be several decades before the game really took off in Europe and Australia when U.S. soldiers were stationed abroad during World War I, taking Poker truly global. Further extended stays during the Second World War cemented the game’s popularity in Australia and by the 1960s Poker was a staple diet of table card games.
However, it wasn’t until the first casino opened in 1973 in Hobart, Tasmania that poker found a legitimate home in the country.
With other states following suit in the 1980s and 1990s, casinos offered a natural home for poker tournaments and casual gaming.
The popular variant, Texas Hold’Em was first introduced to Adelaide in the 1990s.
At the same time, poker leagues were cropping up in pubs and clubs offering more regular players the chance to take part in cumulative competitions.
However, it was events like the World Series of Poker (WSOP) that kicked off the trend of professional poker play.
The first Australian to win the Main Event of the WSOP was Joe Hachem in 2005. At the time, his $7.5 million win was a record-breaker as the world’s biggest tournament prize.
In 2012 Australia became home to the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC) when The Crown Casino, Melbourne and WSOP announced the creation of this new circuit.
With the rise of the internet, online poker became more popular in the 21st century with sites like PokerStars, 888.com and PartyPoker offering greater cash prizes and with the convenience of paying in your own home.
Is Playing Poker Legal?
Playing poker for cash at a land based venue in Australia is 100% legal as long as players are over the age of 18.
When it comes to online poker, the situation is a little less clear cut.
Traditionalists and poker purists have all denounced the rise of online poker claiming it eliminates one of the key elements of a player’s skill in reading other players.
However, it is detractors of another kind which have led to a change in this popular format of playing the game.
Concerned by the high rate of online gambling, the federal government introduced the Interactive Gaming Act in 2001. Designed to restrict the availability of websites offering cash gambling, the legislation effectively criminalises off-shore websites who provide online gaming services to Australians. Initially, this Act did not cover poker but an amendment which was enshrined in law in August 2017 now bans international sites from offering poker in Australia.
This means that compliance of the law falls squarely on the shoulders of the website operators and not the individual. In reality, if you can access a website outside of Australia that hosts poker from your ISP then there is no breach of the law on your part.
Sadly, the change in law has led to the withdrawal of some of the big names offering services to Australians but gamblers can still access their websites using a virtual private network (VPN)
Many players already used a VPN to play online sites in order to protect their privacy and it is becoming a standard way for determined players to continue using sites they frequented before the ban. In addition, the rise in crypto currencies like the Bitcoin have also made it possible to continue gaming through international sites.
Game Variations
With a global popularity, poker has been influenced by several different regions resulting in many variations of the standard five-card game. There are basically four families of poker:
- Draw games
- Community card games
- Stud games
- Novelty games
Draw Games
Draw poker is a variant of the game where each player is dealt a full hand before the first round of betting. Players then replace cards via draws. In casino play, the leading play is usually via the blinds system but in league play tends to go from the dealers left.
Draw games can offer a positional advantage which is why most casinos play blinds. The standard 5-card draw is the most common form of poker. Variants can include:
- Anaconda (“Pass the trash”)
- Baduci or Badugi
- California high/low split
- California lowball
- Double-draw and Triple-draw
- Four-before
- Gardena jackpots (“Jacks to open” or simply “Jackpots”)
- High/low with declare
- Johnson (and “Jacks back”)
- Kansas City lowball
- Q-Ball
- Shotgun (“Roll ’em out” and “Skinny Minnie”)
- Spit in the ocean
Community Card Games
This form of poker refers to any game which has a shared or community based card(s). Also known as window cards, the most common variant of the game is Texas Hold’Em where two private cards are dealt to each player, followed by three community cards (the flop) and two secondary cards, known as the ‘turn’ (or ‘4th street’) and ‘river’ or (5th street).
Community card games offer more of a skill advantage by predicting the ultimate combination of outcomes based on the visible cards that are shared with the rest of the players. The most common of this variety of game is Texas Hold’Em.
Other forms of community poker games include:
- Chowaha
- Cincinnati
- Courchevel
- Crazy Pineapple
- Double Hold’em (also known as Double Texas Hold’em)
- Double-board hold’em
- East Village
- Irish Poker
- Iron cross
- Lame-brain Pete
- London Bridge
- Manila
- No River hold’em
- Omaha hold’em
- Otis Elevator
- Pinatubo
- Pineapple
- Royal hold’em
- Six-pack
- Spit in the ocean
- Tahoe (Lazy Pineapple)
- Tic tac toe
Stud Games
Traditionally a non-positional form of poker, stud variations of the game combine a mix of face-up and face-down cards. Popular variations of the game include:
- Caribbean stud
- Eight-or-better high-low stud
- High-low stud, no qualifier
- Mexican stud
- Mississippi stud
- Razz (and London lowball)
- Six-card stud
Novelty Games
Novelty games include any variant of Poker which doesn’t conform to the above three formats. Most often, these are regional styles of poker and include baseball and Indian as well as many other casual game styles.
Where to Play Poker in Australia: State by State
There are plenty of places to play Poker in Australia at land-based casinos, pub league games and at social clubs.
We’ve put together a guide to the best places to catch a game of poker wherever you find yourself in the country. This includes national and regional poker leagues, including:
- Australian Poker League (APL)
- Australian Pro Poker (APP)
- Deep Stack Poker (DSP)
- Poker Nation (PN)
- Kings Poker (Kings)
- National Poker League (NPL)
- Pokermania (PM)
- Pub Poker (PP)
- Queen 6 (Q6)
- Ultimate Poker Tour (UPT)
- World Poker Tour League (WPT)
- Wynners Poker League (WPL)
- 888 Poker League (888PL)
Australian Capital Territory
Legislation designed to curb gambling in the state means there is only one venue in the ACT where you can play cash Poker and that’s the Casino Canberra.
Canberra
Casino Canberra
21 Binara St, Canberra ACT 2601
The primary venue for hosting cash poker games, the Casino Canberra has a dedicated poker lounge, the Poker Zone.
Games are available from 7.00pm to 4.00am daily and the room comes with a video wall showing live sports.
A variety of games are played at the Casino Canberra, including:
- Texas Hold ‘Em
- 7 Card Stud
- Omaha
- Manila
- Faro
New South Wales
Sydney
Star Casino
80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Poker at the Star Casino comes in a variety of formats including Texas Hold’Em, Caribbean and Mississippi Stud as well as three-card poker
The casino runs several weekly tournaments with its Star Poker club and include turbo, deep stack and deal-in competitions.
Club Marconi
121-133 Prairie Vale Road, Bossley Park, NSW 2176
A members only club, you can find poker tournaments and regular cash games at Bossley Park.
League Poker in Sydney
With a few venues in the city and cash games on different nights, the Sydney Texas Hold ‘Em Poker League (STP) offers regular opportunities to play in the city.
Our pick of the best venues to play regular league poker in Sydney are:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Sat | NPL | The Office Hotel | 6.00pm | $35 |
Sat | PM | GTs Hotel | 2.00pm | $37 |
Sat | Kings | Club Redfern | 2.00pm | Free |
Sat | NPL | Petersham RSL | 7.30pm | $65 |
Sat | APL | South Sydney Jr Rugby Leagues Club | 7.00pm | $55 |
Sun | NPL | Agincourt Hotel | 7.00pm | $5 |
Sun | APL | Camden Lakeside Country Club | 6.35pm | $22 |
Sun | PM | GTs Hotel | 2.00pm | $37 |
Sun | NPL | Paddington RSL | 6.00pm | $25 |
Sun | Kings | Olympic Hotel | 3.00pm | $15 |
Mon | PM | Kauri Foreshore Hotel | 7.30pm | $37 |
Mon | Kings | Crest Sports Bar | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | NPL | East Leagues Club | 7.00pm | $12 |
Mon | NPL | Royal Hotel Leichhardt | 7.30pm | $30 |
Tues | NPL | Wynard Hotel | 7.30pm | $33 |
Tues | NPL | Hotel Downing | 7.00pm | $23 |
Tues | STP | The Vegas Hotel | 7.30pm | $25 |
Tues | APL | City of Sydney’s RSL Club | 7.00pm | $15 |
Tues | Kings | Royal Oak Hotel | 7.00pm | $20 |
Tues | Q6 | Evening Star Hotel | 7.30pm | $15 |
Tues | PM | Madison Hotel | 7.30pm | $37 |
Weds | NPL | Barracks on Barrack | 6.30pm | $30 |
Weds | Kings | Crest Sports Bar | 8.00pm | $20 |
Weds | NPL | Union Hotel | 7.15pm | $18 |
Weds | UPT | Glenquarie Tavern | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | NPL | Mountbatten Hotel | 7.30pm | $15 |
Thurs | APL | Bowlers Club @ 99 on York | 6.30pm | $27 |
Thurs | APL | Canada Bay Club | 2.00pm | Free |
Thurs | NPL | The Office Hotel | 7.00pm | $15 |
Thurs | APL | South Sydney Jr Rugby Leagues Club | 7.00pm | $85 |
Thurs | STP | The Vegas Hotel | 7.30pm | $25 |
Thurs | NPL | Golden Sheaf Hotel | 7.00pm | $30 |
Thurs | Kings | Olympic Hotel | 7.00pm | $30 |
Thurs | Kings | Club Redfern | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | NPL | East Leagues Club | 8.00pm | $12 |
Fri | PM | Kauri Foreshore Hotel | 7.30pm | $37 |
Fri | APL | Camden Lakeside Country Club | 7.30pm | $11 |
Fri | NPL | Petersham RSL | 8.30pm | $75 |
Northern Territory
Darwin
Sky City Casino
Mindil Beach, Gilruth Avenue, Darwin City NT 0820
Running cash games from 6.00pm, Wednesday to Sunday Sky City is the home of regular poker in Darwin.
Games are mostly Caribbean Stud or Texas Hold’Em.
League Poker in Darwin
Darwin mainly has APL league poker games, but you can catch regular buy-ins at the following venues.
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | APL | The Longueville Hotel | 7.30pm | $25 |
Mon | APL | West Sports Croydon | 7.30pm | Free |
Mon | APL | Crocodile Farm Hotel | 11.00pm | $15 |
Tues | APL | Wentworthville Leagues Club | 7.00pm | $15 |
Tues | APL | Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL | 7.30pm | Free |
Tues | APL | Revesby Workers Club | 7.30pm | Free |
Tues | APL | Orchard Tavern | 7.30pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Carnarvon Golf Club | 7.00pm | $15 |
Weds | APL | Bath Arms Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Chatswood RSL | 7.30pm | Free |
Thurs | APL | Bath Arms Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | APL | Revesby Workers Club | 7.30pm | Free |
Thurs | APL | Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL | 7.30pm | $35 |
Thurs | APL | The Longueville Hotel | 7.30pm | $25 |
Thurs | APL | Crocodile Farm Hotel | 11.00pm | $15 |
Fri | APL | Ashfield RSL | 6.30pm | $15 |
Fri | APL | Carnarvon Golf Club | 6.30pm | $15 |
Sat | APL | Chatswood RSL | 6.00pm | Free |
Sat | APL | Revesby Workers Club | 6.00pm | Free |
Sat | APL | Ashfield RSL | 7.30pm | Free |
Sat | APL | Chatswood RSL | 10.00pm | $11 |
Sat | APL | Revesby Workers Club | 10.00pm | $25 |
Sun | APL | Chatswood RSL | 6.00pm | Free |
Sun | APL | Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL | 6.30pm | $35 |
Sun | APL | Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL | 7.30pm | Free |
Sun | APL | Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL | 11.00pm | $15 |
Queensland
Brisbane
Treasury Casino
130 William St, Brisbane City QLD 4000,
The Treasury has a poker zone where you can play various formats of the game, including:
- Caribbean Stud
- Texas Hold’Em
- Three Card Poker
- Mississippi Stud
The zone is open from 10.00am every day and closing late depending on demand.
Tournaments run regularly as well as cash games.
League Poker in Brisbane
There are a lot of leagues in Brisbane running regular poker nights:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | APL | Wynnum Manly Leagues Club | 7.00pm | $ 12 |
Mon | WPT | Underdog Pub | 7.30pm | Free |
Mon | WPT | Crown Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | APL | Crushers League | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | WPT | Prince of Wales Hotel | 11.30am | Free |
Tues | APL | Shafston Hotel | 7.30pm | $ 2 |
Tues | 888PL | Eye Candy Bar | 7.30pm | Free |
Tues | APL | Everton Park Community Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Wynnum RSL Services Club | 7.00pm | $ 12 |
Weds | APL | Stafford Tavern | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Red Lion Hotel | 6.30pm | $ 12 |
Weds | WPT | Boundary Hotel | 8.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Coorparoo RSL | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Stafford Tavern | 6.00pm | Free |
Weds | 888PL | Moorooka Sports & Social Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | APL | Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club | 7.00pm | $ 2 |
Thurs | WPT | The Melbourne Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | WPT | Crown Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | 888PL | Moorooka Sports & Social Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | APL | Everton Park Community Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | WPT | Prince of Wales Hotel | 11.30am | Free |
Fri | DSP | Club Chermside | 7.00pm | Free |
Sat | APL | Royal Exchange Hotel | 6.30pm | $ 12 |
Sat | APL | Red Lion Hotel | 1.00pm | $ 12 |
Sat | WPT | Underdog Pub | 1.00pm | Free |
Sat | APL | Coorparoo RSL | 7.00pm | Free |
Sat | DSP | Enoggera Bowls Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Sat | APP | Salisbury Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Sun | WPT | The Melbourne Hotel | 1.00pm | Free |
Sun | DSP | Club Chermside | 1.00pm | Free |
Gold Coast
The Star Gold Coast Casino
1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach Island, Gold Coast, 4218
The Star Gold Coast runs cash games daily from midday with a No Limit Texas Hold’Em format. There are private gaming facilities but standard tables run with minimum buy-ins of $100, $200 and $500.
They also run tournaments, details of which can be found on the website.
League Poker in Gold Coast
You can play poker in the leagues around the Gold Coast, included the following venues:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | APP | Surfers RSL Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | WPT | Surfers Beer Garden | 6.00pm | Free |
Mon | APL | Sofitel | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | 888 PL | Southport Workers | 11.00am | Free |
Mon | DSP | Central Park Tavern | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | NPL | Mermaid Beach Bowls Club | 6.30pm | Free |
Mon | WPT | Wallaby Hotel | 6.30pm | Free |
Tues | APL | Sofitel | 7.00pm | Free |
Tues | 888 PL | Mermaid Beach Tavern | 12.00pm | Free |
Tues | 888 PL | Mermaid Beach Tavern | 7.30pm | Free |
Tues | WPT | Nerang Community Bowls Club | 6.30pm | Free |
Tues | APP | Labrador Tigers Club | 1.00pm | Free |
Tues | APP | Labrador Tigers Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | 888 PL | The Beach Hotel | 12.00pm | Free |
Weds | APP | Southport Leagues Club | 1.00pm | Free |
Weds | 888 PL | Southport Workers | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | WPT | Robina Tavern | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | The Grand Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | APP | Surfers RSL Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | APL | Broadbeach Bowls Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | 888 PL | Mermaid Beach Tavern | 12.00pm | Free |
Thurs | WPT | All Sports Community Club | 1.00pm | Free |
Thurs | WPT | All Sports Community Club | 6.30pm | Free |
Thurs | APP | Labrador Tigers Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | APL | Broadbeach Bowls Club | 8.00pm | Free |
Sat | 888 PL | Melbas on the Park | 3.00pm | Free |
Sat | APL | Broadbeach Bowls Club | 1.00pm | Free |
Sat | APP | Southport Leagues Club | 1.00pm | Free |
Sat | DSP | Central Park Tavern | 7.00pm | Free |
Sun | 888 PL | Melbas on the Park | 4.30pm | Free |
Sun | WPT | Nerang Community Bowls Club | 5.00pm | Free |
South Australia
Adelaide
Sky City, Adelaide Casino
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
The Sky City casino has a Poker Zone with a range of cash games and tournaments. Game variants are Texas Hold’Em and Omaha.
The Poker Zone is open as follows:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 7.00pm to 3.00am
- Friday to Saturday: 7.00pm to 4.00am
Matchroom Poker
13-33 Shannon Pl, Adelaide SA 5075
Matchroom Poker is a members only club situated in the heart of the city. A serious poker players club, events are held on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.
League Poker in Adelaide
Most of the larger national leagues have regular poker nights in Adelaide with our selection of venues being:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | 888 PL | Carlisle Tavern | 6.30pm | $30 |
Mon | 888 PL | Copper Coast Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Mon | 888 PL | Esplanade Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Mon | 888 PL | Finsbury Hotel | 6.30pm | $15 |
Mon | 888 PL | Glynde Hotel | 7.30pm | $ 20 |
Mon | 888 PL | Maid of Auckland | 7.30pm | Free |
Mon | 888 PL | Marion Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Mon | 888 PL | Middleton Tavern | 6.30pm | $25 |
Mon | 888 PL | Modbury Plaza Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Mon | 888 PL | Para Hills Community Club | 12.00pm | $25 |
Mon | 888 PL | Renmark Hotel Motel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Mon | Elite | British Working Men’s Club | 7.30pm | $15 |
Mon | NPL | Eureka Tavern | 7.30pm | $20 |
Mon | NPL | Semaphore Hotel | 7.30om | $20 |
Mon | NPL | Grand Junction Tavern | 11.00pm | $25 |
Tues | 888 PL | Christies Beach Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Tues | 888 PL | Hope Inn Hotel | 7.30pm | $ 25 |
Tues | 888 PL | Links Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Tues | 888 PL | Morphett Arms Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Tues | 888 PL | Para Hills Community Club | 12.00pm | $25 |
Tues | 888 PL | Royal Exchange Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Tues | 888 PL | Somerset Hotel | 6.30pm | $15 |
Tues | 888 PL | The Office on Pirie | 9.30pm | $25 |
Tues | 888 PL | The Port Club | 6.30pm | $15 |
Tues | 888 PL | Yankalilla Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Tues | NPL | Eureka Tavern | 7.30pm | $ 20 |
Weds | 888 PL | Aberfoyle Hub Tavern | 6.30pm | $5 |
Weds | 888 PL | Checkside Tavern | 6.30pm | $25 |
Weds | 888 PL | Clovercrest Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Weds | 888 PL | McQueens Tavern & Gaming | 10.00pm | $25 |
Weds | 888 PL | Mount Compass Tavern | 6.30pm | $15 |
Weds | 888 PL | Pole Position Entertainment Venue | 7.30pm | $25 |
Weds | 888 PL | The Southern Bar Gaming Bistro | 6.30pm | $25 |
Weds | 888 PL | Troubridge Hotel | 6.30pm | $20 |
Weds | 888 PL | Watermark Glenelg | 6.30pm | $15 |
Weds | 888 PL | Wheatsheaf Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Weds | NPL | Flagstaff Hill Golf Club | 7.00pm | $ 5 |
Weds | NPL | Flagstaff Hill Golf Club | 7.00pm | $ 25 |
Weds | NPL | Parafield Gardens | 7.30pm | $ 15 |
Weds | NPL | Eureka Tavern | 7.30pm | $ 5 |
Weds | NPL | Semaphore Hotel | 7.30pm | $ 20 |
Weds | NPL | Grand Junction Tavern | 11.00pm | $ 25 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Checkside Tavern | 6.30pm | $25 |
Thurs | 888 PL | German Arms Hotel | 6.30pm | $25 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Marion Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Para Hills Community Club | 6.30pm | $5 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Pole Position Entertainment Venue | 9.30pm | $25 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Renmark Club | 6.30pm | $5 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Risdon Hotel | 6.30pm | $5 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Royal Exchange Hotel | 6.30pm | $15 |
Thurs | 888 PL | Watermark Glenelg | 6.30pm | $25 |
Thurs | NPL | Windmill Hotel | 8.00pm | $ 25 |
Thurs | NPL | Sailsbury West Sports Club | 1.00pm | $ 15 |
Thurs | NPL | Sailsbury West Sports Club | 7.30pm | $ 20 |
Thurs | NPL | West Adelaide Football Club | 7.30pm | $ 5 |
Thurs | NPL | South Adelaide Football Club | 7.30pm | $ 5 |
Fri | 888 PL | Hampstead Hotel | 6.30pm | $10 |
Fri | 888 PL | Hampstead Hotel | 9.00pm | $25 |
Fri | 888 PL | McQueens Tavern & Gaming | 6.30pm | $25 |
Fri | 888 PL | The Southern Bar Gaming Bistro | 6.30pm | $25 |
Fri | 888 PL | The Southern Bar Gaming Bistro | 10.00pm | $20 |
Fri | 888 PL | Xsite Gaming | 6.30pm | $25 |
Fri | NPL | Salisbury West Sports Club | 7.30pm | $ 20 |
Fri | NPL | Eureka Tavern | 7.30pm | $ 5 |
Fri | NPL | Eureka Tavern | 11.00pm | $ 25 |
Fri | NPL | Brighton Metro Hotel | 7.30pm | $ 5 |
Fri | NPL | Brighton Metro Hotel | 7.30pm | $ 25 |
Sat | 888 PL | Links Hotel | 6.30pm | $30 |
Sat | 888 PL | McQueens Tavern & Gaming | 10.00pm | $25 |
Sat | 888 PL | Rex Hotel | 6.30pm | $15 |
Sat | NPL | Grand Junction Tavern | 7.00pm | $ 25 |
Sat | NPL | Grand Junction Tavern | 11.00pm | $ 25 |
Sun | NPL | Salisbury West Sports Club | 1.00pm | $ 25 |
Sun | NPL | Parafield Gardens | 7.30pm | $ 20 |
Tasmania
Hobart
Wrest Point Casino
410 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay TAS 7005
Poker is available at Australia’s oldest casino in the form of Texas Hold’Em in the Poker Pit. Games start at $10 buy-in. Opening times for the pit are:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 6.00pm til late
- Friday and Saturday: 8.00pm til late
Seats need to be booked in advance with reception.
Tournaments are held regularly throughout the year; check the website for details.
League Poker in Hobart
There are our picks for the bets poker nights in Hobart:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | 888PL | Hotel Soho | 7.00om | Free |
Mon | 888PL | Waterfront Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | 888PL | Valern Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Tues | 888PL | Hobart Workers Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Tues | 888PL | Valern Hotel | 7.00om | Free |
Tues | NPL | Pembroke Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | 888PL | Hobart Workers Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | 888PL | Waggon & Horses Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | 888PL | The Polish Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Fri | 888PL | Glenorchy RSL | 7.00pm | Free |
Sun | 888PL | Brooker Inn | 2.00pm | Free |
Victoria
Melbourne
The Crown Casino
8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
There are fifty poker tables at the Crown as well as private gaming rooms. The venue also hosts regular tournaments including the popular Aussie Millions.
Crown Poker is available for cash games 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are mainly Texas Hold’Em or Omaha style.
League Poker in Melbourne
Various leagues play weekly across the city with our selection of the best Melbourne poker venues being:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | NPL | Royal Hotel, Essendon | 7.00pm | $25 |
Mon | 888PL | Malvern Vale Hotel | 7.30pm | $12 |
Tues | PP | Maori Chief Hotel | 7.00pm | Free |
Tues | 888PL | Tankerville Hotel | 7.30pm | Free |
Weds | PP | Oxford Scholar Hotel | 6.30pm | Free |
Weds | PN | Hotel Barkly | 7.30pm | $10 |
Thurs | WPT | Prince Alfred Hotel | 7.30pm | $10 |
Thurs | PP | Vaucluse Hotel | 7.30pm | Free |
Fri | NPL | Meadow Inn Hotel | 7.00pm | $25 |
Fri | PP | Browns Corner Hotel | 7.30pm | Free |
Fri | 888PL | Braybrook Hotel | 7.30pm | Free |
Sat | PN | Hotel Barkly | 3.30pm | $15 |
Sat | 888PL | Tankerville Hotel | 7.30pm | $12 |
Sun | APL | St Kilda Army & Navy Club | 3.30pm | $11 |
Sun | 888PL | Waterloo Cup Hotel | 2.00pm | $17 |
Western Australia
Perth
Crown Casino Perth
Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, WA 6100
There are just 12 poker tables at the Crown but there are private gaming and VIP options available which are suitable for high-rollers. As well as cash games (Texas Hold’Em) the Crown runs regular tournaments.
League Poker in Perth
As well as many of the national leagues, Perth has its own league, aptly named the Perth Poker League (PPP).
Our pick of the best venues to play poker in Perth are:
Day | League | Venue | Start | Buy In |
Mon | APL | The Publican, Victoria Park | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | APL | Leederville Sporting Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | APL | High Road Hotel, Rivertn | 7.00pm | Free |
Mon | APL | Herdman Lake Tavern, Wembley | 7.00pm | $30 |
Mon | PPP | The Duke, Carramar | 7.00pm | $50 |
Mon | PPP | Cricketers Arms, Ballajurra | 7.00pm | $50 |
Tues | APL | Bel Eyre, Belmont | 7.00pm | Free |
Tues | APL | Victoria Park Hotel | 7.00pm | $30 |
Tues | WPT | Belmont Tavern, Cloverdale | 7.00pm | Free |
Tues | APL | Captain Stirling Hotel, Nedlands | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | APL | Doll’s House Gentleman’s Club | 8.30pm | Free |
Weds | WPT | Greyhounds, Cannington | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | PPP | Springs Tavern, Beechboro | 7.00pm | $50 |
Weds | PPP | The Sixty30, Merriwa | 7.00pm | Free |
Weds | WPL | Brass Monkey Hotel, Northbridge | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | APL | Hotel Northbridge | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | PPP | Bayswater Hotel | 7.00pm | $60 |
Thurs | APL | Cannington Bowls Club | 7.00pm | Free |
Thurs | WPT | Swan Districts Football Club, Bassendea | 7.00pm | $40 |
Fri | WPT | Swan Districts Football Club, Bassendea | 7.00pm | $40 |
Fri | PPP | Ilenden Sports Bar, Balcatta | 7.00pm | $50 |
Fri | WPL | The Game Sports Bar, Northbridge | 7.30pm | $50 |
Sat | APL | Doll’s House Gentleman’s Club | 8.00pm | $30 |
Sat | WPT | Greyhounds, Cannington | 7.00pm | $40 |
Sat | APL | Langford Ale House | 1.00pm | $50 |
Sat | PPP | Malaga Tavern | 12.30pm | $60 |
Sat | PPP | Olympic Kingsway Sports Club, Madeley | 7.00pm | $50 |
Sun | PPP | Civic Hotel, Inglewood | 3.00pm | $50 |
Sun | APL | Cannington Bowls Club | 1.00pm | $60 |
Sun | WPL | 7 Mile Inn, Balcatta | 6.00pm | $50 |
Best Online Poker Sites for Aussies
As well as land based cash games and tournaments you can play online poker at a variety of sites. Although the Interactive Gaming Act 2001 prevents off-shore operators from offering their services, it is still possible to access them without any offence committed on behalf of the individual (see ‘Is Playing Poker Legal?’, above).
It is worth noting that some of these sites do not accept AUD accounts, in which case you will need to do your research on the best currencies to open an account with. Some players prefer to use USD whilst others are exploring the use of the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.
Our pick of the best online poker sites for Australians offer a good combination of great game play, good cash pots and accessibility for Oz players.
BetOnline Better known for its sportsbook, BetOnline attracts a lot of US players and is in the top five poker sites in America. Founded in 2004, BetOnline has a wide range of deposit options and attractive sign-up incentives. The site has gained a reputation for its fast cash payouts and is popular for the diversity of players. As a sportsbook site, there are quite a lot of amateur gamblers online who are considered rich pickings for professional players. Cash games and tournaments are good with a guaranteed $100k each weekend. You can’t play poker via a mobile and the software client you download isn’t the most slick you can find but its worth sticking with. | |
Black Chip Poker One of the best places to play poker online wherever you are in the world, Black Chip Poker has a great range of poker variants, multi-table play and two types of sit and go play. There’s a good variety of players attracted to the site which can make games really challenging but, ultimately, more rewarding. The Million Dollar Sunday event occurs every few months and offers a guaranteed US$1 million. Buy-ins can be high or low and funding options are good supporting money transfer, debit cards, credit cards and crypto currency The only downside to the site is the fact you can only play on Windows with Mac and mobile not supported. | |
Ignition Casino Ignition launched its poker services into Oz in July 2017 but has been operating since 2004. Ignition is already a popular site with Aussies due to its size, range of tables and huge cash tournaments. You can even play up to 20 tables simultaneously. Another popular feature is anonymity which gives all players a more level playing field. There are some good sign up bonuses and you can play via mobile or PC/Mac download. However, you can’t play multi-table tournaments or sit and gos from the mobile site. The main currency is the Bitcoin/Bitcoin Cash but you can also use credit cards to fund your balance. The site is | |
Intertops Known for its sportsbook rather than its casino games, Intertops Poker has a good offering of cash games and tournaments. There are fewer sit and gos than some other sites and the buy-ins may be too low for some. Deposit options are more varied and you can fund with Skrill, Neteller and Bitcoin. There are also some great welcome bonuses and regular promotions to reward loyalty. Play is through a download client for PC or via your mobile device. | |
Tiger Gaming ‘Wild since ‘99’, Tiger Gaming is a trusted online poker site that provides sports betting and casino games including poker. As a non-specific gaming site the extra traffic generated from the casino trade does provide some loose tables which can be rich pickings. However it is the tournaments which make this site worth bookmarking. With big cash games and plenty of action whatever the time, Tiger Gaming offers some good sign-up incentives. The site is part of the Chico Poker Network which is the 3rd largest cardroom for American players opening up a good range of competition for regular players. Still accessible in Australia, you can play poker with Tiger Gaming on PC, Mac and mobile.
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Featured image via Pxhere.