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Best Australian Poker Sites 2026
Australia is the most recognizable country in Oceania. With a population of almost 30 million people, it has one of the deepest-rooted gambling traditions in the world. In this article, we examine how online poker works in Australia today and outline the options still available to players despite strict regulations in the land of kangaroos
Top online poker sites for Australian players
The world of Australian online poker players changed forever in 2017 when the authorities banned online poker. This makes choosing the best poker sites for locals a complex process requiring a lot of experience to ensure the games are safe and profitable.
Where to play online poker in Australia?
Our team has thoroughly evaluated the online poker market in Australia to bring our players an updated list of the safest poker rooms, which we will review below.
| Rank | Poker Site | Bonus | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best Australian online poker site | CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5 |
| ✅ Best for ring games | Sportsbetting | 100% up to $1,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5, PLO6, PLO Hi/Low, Boost Poker |
| ✅ Best poker app | ClubGG | up to 50% rakeback | NLH, PLO, PLO5, PLO6 |
| ✅ Anonumus poker | Ignition Casino | 150% up to $1,500 | NLH, FLH, PLO, PLO Hi/Low, Zone Poker |
| ✅ New poker site | BCPoker | 15% up to $200 | NLH, PLO, AoF, ShortDeck |
Contact our team for personalized advice and access to the best rakeback offers to play online poker in Australia.
Ignition Poker
Ignition is an American–Australian skin of the PaiWangLuo network. Fully anonymous tables and limited tracking tools help to keep player pools relatively weak.
Ignition Poker offers the widest range of games available to Australian players. Alongside NL and PL tables, the room also features fixed-limit games. Zone Poker is especially popular, with strong traffic up to NL500.
The tournament lobby expands the variety even further. Players can choose from dozens of guaranteed MTTs running daily, as well as Jackpot Spin&Go with buy-ins of up to $100, HU and 6-max Sit&Go.
For regular grinders, the main downside is the absence of a traditional rakeback system. After wagering the 150% first-deposit bonus of up to $1,500, rewards are limited to ticket exchanges and occasional random bonuses, such as payouts for hitting a royal flush or a bad beat (losing with a Quad Kings).
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is a modern, crypto-first platform that provides Australian poker players with anonymous access to online games. Founded in 2019 by well-known high-stakes player and entrepreneur Tony G, the room is supported by a team that includes prominent professionals such as Ben "Bencb" Rolle and Patrick Leonard.
All games on CoinPoker are played in USDT, with the bulk of traffic focused on 7-max tables, an uncommon format in today’s online poker landscape. Cash-game stakes range from 0.01/0.02₮ up to 1,000/2,000₮.
The poker room's tournaments are also suitable for players of all bankroll levels. The tournament schedule suits every bankroll level. Buy-ins start from just $0.01, while the flagship Nemesis ₮100,000 GTD event carries a ₮5,000 buy-in, with satellite entries available from ₮5.
CoinPoker’s rakeback structure is straightforward and generous. Players receive a flat 33% rakeback paid every Monday, regardless of volume. In addition, a 150% deposit bonus of up to $2,000 effectively boosts rakeback to 50% for up to 30 days following the first deposit.
SportsBetting Poker
SportsBetting is one of the oldest and most well-known gambling brands in the Australian market. The platform combines an online sportsbook, casino, and poker room, and stands out by supporting one of the widest selections of cryptocurrencies for deposits, 19 coins in total.
As part of the Chico network, SportsBetting benefits from strong poker traffic, with hundreds of active tables during peak evening hours. The most popular games are 6-max and 9-max Texas Hold’em, with stakes reaching up to $5/$10. Players can also find PLO, PLO5, PLO6, and Chinese Poker (Spin&Go only) available in the lobby.
Tournament players have access to a full schedule of regular MTTs with guarantees of up to $200,000, alongside Windfall Spin&Go and exclusive Sit&Go formats featuring a progressive Mystery Battle jackpot and Bomb Pot.
The main promotions include leaderboard races across multiple poker formats and a rakeback starting at 10% through a loyalty program shared between poker, casino, and sports betting. New players automatically receive a 100% first-deposit bonus of up to $1,000, along with several satellite tickets.
This is how we rank the best poker sites in Australia
In countries like Australia, the ranking of online poker rooms has many nuances that must be clearly defined, as it cannot be based on traditional gaming licenses since Australian regulation restricts the operation of many traditional sites. Taking this into account, we use the following criteria to evaluate the sites we mention in this article:
- Background: poker sites must have a track record of at least five years and be well-established in the gaming market.
- Support: whether they are gaming companies or recognized players, it is ideal that the sites have enough support in the gaming community.
- Community opinion: both players and affiliates must have a good opinion of the site. For this we resort to our database of players and web searches to verify the status of the current operation of the room.
- Software: state-of-the-art apps for mobile devices and desktop computers are updated frequently and with a certified RNG (Random Number Generator).
- Payouts: should be tailored to local needs (cryptocurrencies mainly) without charging excessive fees and processed in a reasonable time (less than 24-48 hours)
Online poker in Australia
Let's be straight. Australia is not a poker-friendly country. Since the regulation was approved in 2017, all recognized poker sites had to leave the country due to the impossibility of obtaining a license to operate.
However, as has happened with other bans around the world, these did not reduce the appetite of players to join the tables, so international offshore sites continue to provide their services in the Oceanic country, assuming the risks that this implies.
Legal background of online poker in Australia
Until 2017, Australia was a paradise for online poker grinders. All the well-known online poker websites of the time (PokerStars, 888Poker, and even some American ones like Chico or WPN) operated peacefully, and Aussies could play with rivals from all over the world.
Before this, in 2001, the Interactive Gambling Act was passed, a law that restricted the advertising of gambling and offering certain services. Although it did not have major repercussions, the poker rooms mentioned above continued to operate without major problems.
Then, in 2017, after an extensive legislative process, the Australian parliament approved the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill, which meant the exit of all the major gambling operators in Australia because, in a few words, online poker was banned. With the closure of traditional rooms in the Oceanic country, the so-called international or offshore poker sites landed.
Australian laws shift the responsibility for poker games in that country to the operators, although there were also specified fines for individuals that we have never seen applied in practice.
In conclusion, online poker has been banned in Australia for almost a decade, during which the presence of poker sites such as Ignition Poker or CoinPoker has been consolidated, providing their services without interruption to locals.
Poker taxes
Although online poker is banned in practice due to Australian regulations, many players continue to play on virtual tables at sites such as those mentioned in this article, which always leads to the question: Do you have to pay taxes on online poker winnings?
The short answer is no. There are no specific taxes on online poker in Australia. However, the situation may differ in some exceptional cases such as professional players whose only income comes from poker. A general income tax may also apply to income.
We recommend checking with a professional accountant if you have additional questions.
Deposit and withdrawal methods for Aussie poker players
Due to restrictive regulations, payment options for online poker in Australia are heavily limited. In reality, most players rely on cryptocurrency and related services, as traditional banking and fiat methods are largely unavailable or unreliable when using offshore poker sites.
Available payment methods
- Cryptocurrencies (USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, etc). The main deposit and withdrawal option for Australian players is cryptocurrency, which enables them to bypass banking restrictions and access offshore poker sites without intermediaries.
- CoinSpot. A major Australian crypto exchange with AUD on/off-ramp support, commonly used to convert crypto into Australian dollars.
- Binance (AUD). Once regarded as a universal solution for converting cryptocurrency to AUD, Binance Australia currently has AUD deposits and withdrawals effectively disabled, significantly reducing its usefulness for this purpose.
Live poker in Australia
Australia holds a prominent place on the global live poker scene, hosting major international events alongside long-running domestic series held in casinos across the country.
For many years, the country has been closely linked with one of the world’s most prestigious live poker festivals, the Aussie Millions. After its last edition in 2020, the series was on hiatus for several years, but its long-awaited return has now been confirmed. According to official announcements, the Aussie Millions will take place in April–May 2026 at Crown Casino Melbourne. The schedule includes 18 tournaments, with a $10,600 Main Event, marking Australia’s return to the international tournament calendar.
In addition, Australia also regularly hosts other live poker series, such as the Australian Poker Tour (APT) and the National Poker League, which are primarily aimed at the local players.
| Casino | Location | Poker tables & limits | Other features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Casino Melbourne | Melbourne, Victoria | ~20 – 30 tables; cash games from AUD 1/3 up to 5/10+ | The country's main poker hub; home to the Aussie Millions; regular major tournaments. |
| Crown Casino Perth | Perth, Western Australia | ~10 – 15 tables; cash games AUD 1/3 – 2/5 | Western Australia's premier live poker venue, with consistent local traffic. |
| The Star Poker Sydney | Sydney, New South Wales | ~10 – 20 tables; cash games from AUD 1/3 | The Star network's most active poker room, with daily cash games and tournaments. |
| The Star Poker Brisbane | Brisbane, Queensland | ~6 – 10 tables; low-mid stakes | Targeted at recreational players, with regularly scheduled local tournaments. |
| The Star Poker Gold Coast | Gold Coast, Queensland | ~6 – 10 tables; low stakes mostly | Resort-style format featuring seasonal activities and organized tournament series. |
| Adelaide Casino | Adelaide, South Australia | ~6 – 8 tables; cash games from AUD 1/3 | Compact poker room with an emphasis on cash games and smaller tournament events. |
Famous Australian poker players
- Michael Addamo — $24,5M+
- Kahle Burns — $ 14,6M+
- Joe Hachem — $13,1M+
- Adrian Attenborough — $ 7,5M+
- Jeff Rossiter — $ 6,7M+
Australian poker players have won 36 WSOP gold bracelets, including the Main Event, which Joe Hachem won in 2005.
Jeff Lisandro, better known as “Iceman,” has six bracelets, including the prestigious $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship in 2006 and several titles in exotic formats such as Seven Card Stud.
Michael Addamo is the Australian player with the most money in history, with titles in the WSOP, PokerStars Championship, Aria Summer, Aussie Million, Australian Poker Tour, Poker Masters Online, Super High Roller Bowl Online, PokerGO Tour, among others.
Kahle Burns is also a WSOP champion and has won Triton Poker titles.
Nearly 100 Australian players have surpassed the million-dollar barrier.
Responsible gaming
One of the key goals of Australia’s gambling regulation is to minimize the risks of problem gambling and encourage responsible gaming. While many grinders are poker professionals, some players may have trouble controlling their gambling impulses. You can find help from the following entities:
- Gambling Help Online - free 24/7 anonymous support, 1800 858 858
- GambleAware - Australian organization that offers information and support related to responsible gambling issues.
Always remember to stay on the friendly side of gambling, keep an eye on your bankroll, and seek professional support if you need it.
Summary
At first glance, real money online poker in Australia may appear entirely out of reach: regulations are strict, and licensed poker sites are not permitted to operate officially in the country. In practice, however, Australian players continue to access online poker via international offshore platforms, relying mainly on alternative payment methods such as cryptocurrency. At the same time, Australia maintains a thriving live poker scene, supported by major casinos, regular domestic series, and the long-awaited return of the Aussie Millions in 2026.
In this review, we’ve examined the current poker landscape in Australia and outlined the options available to players today, both online and offline. WorldPokerDeals helps players navigate this market with up-to-date reviews of online poker rooms that accept Australian players, making it easier to choose the right platform based on traffic levels, conditions, and game formats.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
| ✅Is online poker legal in Australia? | Under a 2017 law, online poker is prohibited for operators, but there is no direct ban for players. As a result, Australians can still play on international offshore poker sites that accept local players. |
|---|---|
| ✅ Can I play at PokerStars in Australia? | Unfortunately, PokerStars does not operate in Australia, and there are no prospects for its return to the island. |
| ✅ Can I play the WSOP in Australia? | The WSOP International Circuit has visited Australia several times, so you should watch the schedule to compete for a gold ring on the island. |
| ✅ Is poker popular in Australia? | Poker is one of the most popular sports in Australia, accounting for more than 30 WSOP gold bracelets and nearly $600,000,000 in prize money on the live tournament circuit. |
| ✅ Why can't Australians play poker online? | The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill passed in 2017 prohibits the operation of online poker rooms in Australia. Due to this, the main operators withdrew from the Oceanic country; however, this article provides safe options for playing online. |
| ✅ Are there online poker rooms that accept Australians? | Yes! This guide studies the best online poker rooms that accept Australians. |
| ✅ Are private poker games legal in Australia? | Private games are legal as long as the game organizer does not receive a commission from the poker game. Organizing tournaments requires a special permit from local authorities. |
| ✅ Can I use a VPN to play poker in Australia? | We do not recommend using VPNs or proxies to play online poker from Australia, as you may get into trouble in the long run. |
| ✅ Is GGPoker available in Australia? | Unfortunately, GGPoker does not accept Australian players. |
| ✅ Is it legal to play online poker in Australia? | Online poker is banned in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill (IGA) passed in 2017. |
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