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Online Poker Tournaments Australia

 

Make no mistake for Australia is a land where people love to take chances, and this undoubtedly includes the exciting game of poker. To understand the state of the game, let’s first focus on the recent developments. The Parliament of Australia ousted many of the international brands with a decision dated March 21, 2017, making online poker in Australia illegal.

Satellite Tournaments are a much cheaper buy-in option for people looking to get a seat at a big money tournament, whether online or at a bricks and mortar event like the World Series of Poker. While PokerStars probably has the most of these types of tournaments, we find playing at 888 Poker. If you love Monster Stack tournaments and you’re seeking online poker real money, this is the place to go. You will find the game you want at 7 a.m., 7:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. All of those are Daily Monster Stack tournaments. OnlinePoker.com.au - Australia's #1 guide to online poker in 2021 Compare the best AU-friendly poker sites Play in AUD$$ Get bonuses up to $2000!

This new law had heavyweights such as PokerStars and 888poker pack up and leave, but despite the retreat, Australians haven’t lost their zest for the game. In fact, some 2.3 million Aussies enjoy card games and while the ban has made it difficult for online card rooms to exist, the provision hasn’t restricted players’ ability to join online poker portals.

This brings the question: what exactly are the available opportunities to enjoy licensed online poker in Australia for real money in 2020?

Here are the best online poker rooms in Australia for 2020:

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Is Playing Online Poker in Australia Legal in 2020?

Australia has courted online poker options for a long while now. While there is no law that criminalises the participation in online gambling communities, poker included, anyone willing to run a poker room in the country would face a slew of legal challenges.

Take for example the 2001 Internet Gambling Act which was hammered in with the 2017 ruling of the Parliament of Australia. Senator Mitchel Fifield brought up the issue of legalising poker not so long ago, but no significant progress has been done since then. Today, the following rules apply to online poker in Australia:

  • Licensed brands aren’t allowed to offer products
  • Reputed offshore companies continue to extend poker opportunities
  • Player participation in online poker in the country isn’t criminalised
  • Respected offshore operators have pooled U.S. and Australian players
  • Over AUS$21 million is distributed in tournament prizes each weekend to poker fans

Still, despite the lack of mainstream gaming operators, a lot of the more daring offshore poker card rooms with years of experience under their belt have been happy to take all amongst you who are eager to join the poker action in Australia.

The good news is that even though you cannot run your own card room, you are free to participate in any sort of gambling activity. Not all operators are worth it though, as their licenses are usually issued by jurisdictions that the Australian government cannot sanction.

This is why you will need to pick the ones that can be trusted. One way to research online poker in Australia, other than trusting our expert judgement, is to go to discussion forums such as Reddit, which will offer genuine opinions by fellow players.

Games and Traffic at Poker Websites in Australia

With the Australian poker population growing, the country’s player base is definitely enough to provide opportunities for big cash prizes and multi-million weekend tournaments. Australians are pooled in a global poker network which allows them instant access to great cash games, Sit & Go’s, and all sorts of tournaments played at a normal and turbo pace.

As an Australian online poker player, you will have access to a number of games, including:

  • No Limit Hold’em
  • Texas Hold’em
  • Omaha Hi/Lo & quite a few others.

With traffic not being an issue to Aussie poker aficionados, life feels a little better, especially when you are in pursuit of grinding opportunities to finance a bankroll that will come handy at an offline tournament.

Online Poker Tournaments

Speaking of tournaments, you will find yourself in quite the rich choice of options. We have examined the full offer of all trustworthy Aussie-friendly poker card rooms online, and the variety of tournaments there is quite staggering, including:

  • Monster Stack Poker Tournament
  • AUS$140K Guaranteed Poker Tournament
  • AUS$21.6M Guaranteed Every Week
  • AUS$107K Guaranteed High Roller

Tournaments are a staple product of all poker websites, and it is no surprise that Aussie-facing ones also have quite a few viable options when it comes to the choice of tournaments. Meanwhile, you will want to drop by the Sit & Go Tournaments and see what they have to offer:

  • Hold’em NL: $1 + $0.05/ $200 + $14
  • Omaha PL: $1 + $0.05/ $100 + $8
  • Omaha Hi/Lo PL: $1 + $0.05 /$100 + $9

The Sit & Go’s are often a favourite mode of play among Aussie poker players, as they offer quick and reliable opportunities to turn a profit. Some card rooms will still display all values in US$, so make sure to double check with that and account for conversion rates.

In the meantime, Aussie players will find themselves playing alongside an international crowd for pretty decent overall prize pools.

The Poker Bonuses and Loyalty Rewards in Aussie Poker

Aussie poker players cannot complain when it comes to bonuses as they will be showered with respectable awards. This being poker, you can expect a sign-up offer that is released in increments, allowing you to gradually grow your bankroll.

You can also benefit from the loyalty program available at every recommended and tested website we have had the pleasure to review. Reload bonuses will help you top off your bankroll at any point and they come with the same fair playthrough requirements that all respected poker card rooms offer.

Lastly, you have the VIP & Loyalty Reward programs that have been designed to help you get better cashback and redemption rate as you level though regular play.

Is it worth focusing on the Loyalty & Reward programs as an Australian poker player? Absolutely! All loyalty programs have been designed to incrementally help you consolidate your funds and presence at a particular platform.

So far as long-term bonuses and promotions for online poker in Australia go, you should certainly check these out.

Online Poker in Australia with Real Money: New Player Guide

If you are just walking into the world of online poker opportunities available to Aussie gamers, you will find yourself with a good choice. For all those among you looking to play for real money, grind up their bankroll and attend some offline events further down the road, Australia is the perfect place to do so. Let’s have a quick look at the available limits:

Australian Poker Game Limits
GameMinimum LimitMaximum Limit
NL Texas Hold’em$0.02/$0.05$10/20
FL Texas Hold’em$0.05/$0.10$30/60
PL Omaha Hi$0.02/$0.05$10/20
PL Omaha Hi/Lo$0.02/$0.05$10/20


You don’t need a big budget to start playing online poker in Australia. All table limits are quite within the budget means of the majority of players, allowing you to play competitively whatever your current budget. Some of these card rooms are anonymous, meaning you won’t have to worry about being harassed by players with bigger pots, while the integrity of the competition will be guaranteed by the brand.

Banking Options Friendly to Aussie Players

When it comes to banking options, Australia is its own land of opportunity. You will find a number of Aussie-friendly payment solutions that have been designed to cater to the specific needs of local gamers. If you are looking to collect funds or deposit money, you will find the following payment options quite handy:

  • PayPal
  • Neteller
  • POLi
  • Skrill

Banking cards may not be an immediate go-to solution so long that some legal wrinkles remain to be smoothed out. On the plus side, Bitcoin and e-wallets provide you with swift payment options, not to mention the added level of player protection and anonymity, which is always a good thing.

When it comes to fees, some will be determined by the websites you play with, so that’s worth a closer look. Usually the fee can be a percentage of the sum or a flat rate. If you opt for Bitcoin, though, you can save yourself the trouble completely.

Staying Safe at Australia’s Top Card Rooms

The word “offshore” is not always thrown around in the kindest terms, but the good news is that the offshore card rooms we have had the pleasure to explore are pretty decent across the board. They have a very player-centric approach and the promotions that they run are very much as per the industry’s standards. So far as security measures go, these poker rooms are:

  • Fully SSL encrypted
  • Keep players funds in a separate account

Aussie websites tick all the right boxes as far as security is concerned, allowing you to enjoy a hassle-free experience around the clock. Yet, playing with unproven online poker portals in Australia also has its pitfalls and we recommend against it.

For your consideration, we have put together a list of blacklisted websites that have proved themselves to not meet the industry’s standards we hold good operators by.

Download or Instant Play?

Australians can enjoy quite a few options when it comes to play modes, but for the most part, card rooms prefer to operate through a dedicated client. Instant play options are still there, but not as common. On the plus side, installing a dedicated client takes no effort at all. All you need to do to set yourself up and play online poker in Australia is:

Free Online Poker Tournaments

  1. Go to the dedicated download page
  2. Choose your operating system (Mac or Windows)
  3. Install the package
  4. Register an account
  5. Login
  6. Deposit funds
  7. Start playing

Free Poker Tournaments For Money

It may seem like a little too much, but you can complete the entire process in the matter of two-three minutes. Even then, we advise you to pay particular attention to the depositing options. In most cases, the payment method that you pick to deposit with will also be the one you use to cash money out with.

Usually, Australians don’t have to deal with fees, but in some cases they will apply. This is why many poker players prefer to keep playing until they have more substantial sums for cashing out, such as $200, $300, and more.

The average Australian spends between AUS$1,300 and AUS$1,700 every year on gambling, which is quite a bit of money all things considered. It helps to know that there are sufficient banking options allowing the safe transfer of these funds.

Mobile Poker: Take the Experience with You

Mobile poker is available to Australian players. The only pre-condition here is to have a portal which allows players to access their poker portfolio directly through the browser. This translates into mobile play, which is handy to say the least. Most poker pros admit that when they sit down for prolonged grinding sessions, they would much rather do it in front of a computer. Yet, a few quick hands on the way home is always a good way to break into your stride.

Are There Enough Poker Players for Aussies to Play With?

While Australia-based card rooms may not be a thing still, Aussie players are not giving up on poker. The estimated 2 million players are joining various card rooms and it’s only a matter of time before they start converging on the best and most populous card rooms.

Our recommendations will also help you find great gaming options where the poker action continues around the clock thanks to a vibrant player base. You can realistically expect around 300 players in the low points and up to 1,000 and more during peak hours. Weekend tournaments get very busy very quickly, so you will definitely not lack action during your days off.

Playing Online Poker in Australia Is Fun

When all things about online poker in Australia have been considered, the natural conclusion is that the world’s most famous and challenging card game is quite fun to play in the country. There are still a lot that can be done to facilitate the access of players and streamline the banking process, but even today, Australia has a viable poker ecosystem.

The country is a perfect place for anyone who wants to pursue a career in poker seriously, as it allows plentiful grinding opportunities. Tournaments and well-budgeted games abound in Australia and there is no small number of opportunities to go on and become a great poker player yourself.

Poker sites certified by

Why this matters to you?
  • eCogra is an independent, internationally approved testing agency
  • Focusing on player protection and assurance
  • Only certifying trustworthy, reliable and safe poker sites

'There are now 126 accredited sites under the eCOGRA Safe and Fair umbrella, belonging to the most successful and well-established gambling companies on the internet.'

eCOGRA CEO - Andrew BeveridgeView our top rated Poker sites

Looking for Australia's best poker sites with fair dealing, fast withdrawals and insanely good welcome bonuses?

Unlike other online poker reviewers we're completely independent from all internet poker site operators. We research Australia's top poker rooms by playing for real money before rating them on key criteria such as reliability, trustworthiness, security, ease-of-use, customer support and payout speed.

Don't have time to trawl through hundreds of poker site reviews? Scroll down this page to find key information on our top 5 rated Australian poker sites below. We've also managed to negotiate an exclusive welcome bonus of $600 for this month's top ranked site, .

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Every online poker site listed on this page has been extensively tested by our review team and accredited third parties such as eCOGRA to ensure they offer you:

  • Fair dealing using industry leading random number generators
  • Security systems equal to or better than those used by top online banks
  • Easy deposits and fast withdrawals in Australian Dollars
Find out how we rate and rank sites(and why our system is better than other sites)
How we rate poker sites - and why we do it better

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We include over 50 criteria in our ratings and are fully transparent and 100% independent from the poker operators. This allows us to write non-biased reviews. The 3 most important criteria in our reviews are:
  • Software In our review process, software is one of the nost important test criteria. We download and play poker on all devices and operating systems.
  • Welcome Bonus A big welcome bonus attracts new players but are often misleading. We will check each bonus and tell you what kind of poker player it's best for.
  • Secure and safe banking Being able to deposit and cashout instantly to a few days for big cashouts is a must for serious poker players. For ech reviewed poker site we deposit and cashout anonymously and post these results.
Our research found out many other poker review site are owned by big poker operators. This means they will promote their own poker sites above others and write biased reviews. Always do your research who is behind a poker review site and only trust 100% independent websites like this one!
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Australian Poker Sites

Find the best Oz online poker sites on the internet.

Fishiest Sites

Get straight to the easiest tables with our guide to the fishiest sites.

Mac Sites

Want to play poker on your Mac? Then check out our Mac guide.

No Download

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POLi

POLi is a popular Oz deposit method. Most top sites accept it.

Real Money

Discover the best sites to play poker at for real money.

Top Online Poker Sites in Australia

We go the extra mile to make sure everything we offer is of the highest quality so that you can choose wisely. Doing this helps you to find the best poker sites on the net for Australian players. Our team squarely focuses on safety and fairness to ensure your protection. We actually play at and review every new Texas Holdem site that comes into the market to ensure that any site we present to you which offers poker online is safe, secure, fair and most of all fun.

With thousands of new sites every year, we are very busy making sure we bring the right ones to you. Along with our exacting criteria, we also make sure that the sites for online poker you are offered here have the very best graphics, exclusive tournaments, the highest payouts, and excellent sign up bonuses for a more enjoyable experience. Our experts have extensively reviewed and played at the best sites Australia has to offer, including Full Tilt, PartyPoker, 888 Poker, PokerStars, Bodog and Ladbrokes. We also bring you plenty of helpful learning resources, including our popular poker odds calculator, which is great for novices and experienced players alike.

Find the Biggest Welcome Bonuses

Sign up bonuses are a very important aspect for you to consider when choosing a site. A bonus often comes in the form of a top poker site matching your initial deposit, giving you access to extra funds. The bigger the bonus you receive, the more you can play, and the better chance you have for more winnings. Some sites listed offer deposits and cash outs in Australian Dollars (AUD) allowing you to avoid the complication of currency conversion.

The bigger the bonus you receive, the more you can play, and the better chance you have for more winnings.

Our online poker reviewers have very strict criteria that they use to rate Australian sites. That way you always know we are presenting you with the best choices. Play at one or more of our offered casinos to decide on which ones you prefer, because they are all great.

The card game of Poker has many different varieties including Texas Hold'em and Omaha, so make sure the on line casino you choose has the games you like to play best. Don't ignore the other games though, even if you've never played them. You may find new favourites you have never even heard of when you try out our Internet poker sites. We also have the gambling websites rated and graded by a variety of criteria so Australian internet poker players will find something to interest them, no matter their skill level or bankroll size.

Check out the best online poker sites available to Australian players today. You can be gaming in minutes and having fun, safe in the knowledge that we have done the research and brought you the best.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it popular to play online poker in Australia?

Do I have to make a deposit?

Can I play on my mobile?

Are there enough players to play against?

What makes a great poker site?

What is the best online poker site?

Short answer: yes, it's popular to play poker online in Australia.

Long answer: The Aussies form a large part of the online poker community around the world. It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million Australians play their cards at some form of online gambling. The game of poker blossomed with the rise of the Internet. In fact, several casino sites offer their services on mobile devices so that the Aussies can play on the go.

It's completely up to you. If you want to play with and win real money then yes you'll have to make a real money deposit. If you're just playing for fun though, there's always the play money option which comes with no deposit necessary. It's easy to play with pretend money because many Aussie online gambling sites let you come in and test the water with no financial obligations.

Online Poker Tournaments Australia 2019

At some poker sites in Australia, you'll find freerolls open to players who haven't deposited. These are poker tournaments that cost nothing to enter, but come with real money prizes.

You can. There are many online poker sites that have native apps that will allow you to play Texas Hold'em and other games on your smartphone. That means you can take your online gaming wherever you go. However, you can also play mobile poker via a web browser rather than an app. It is important to remember that you can enjoy the same games and banking on your mobile as you would on your desktop, and use the same account you have with an internet poker room. You can enjoy Android, iPhone or iPad tablet poker any time you want.

Yep! The great thing about Aussie online poker is that you're not just playing poker against other Australians, you're playing against people from all over the world.

This of course means higher prize pools and lots of tables to choose from no matter what stakes you want to play at. Of course if you choose a random site that hasn't been reviewed by us it might not be as popular as the others so you could find yourself playing poker at half-empty tables!

Lots of things. First of all, you want a poker site that has a lot of players. Not only is it a sign that the company are doing things right, it's also an indication that you have a better chance of winning some real money.

The number of players is just the beginning though. You also need to make sure the site you choose offers Aussie-friendly deposit options like credit card and POLi, fast withdrawals so you don't have to wait for your winnings, great customer service in case you get into a fix, and secure technology to keep your information safe at all times.

Many players say that PokerStars is the biggest and best online poker site for Australians. After reviewing hundreds of online rooms, our reviewers recommend 888 as the top option for poker players in Australia.