Can I play online poker Australia for real money? Here at PokerScout, you’ll be guided through the current legal landscape of Oz and discover the best online poker sites in Australia with huge bonuses, $12.5M prizepools, and soft games.
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Best Poker Sites
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Our selection of poker sites | Play Now |
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Poker Sites With the Hottest Rakeback
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The best rakeback sites | Play Now |
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Top Bonuses for Card and Crypto
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Selected sites with choice bonuses | Play Now |
Australian Poker Sites Ranked by Traffic
| Poker Site | 7 Day avg | Online | Cash | 24 H Peak | Last Week | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GGNetwork | 10500 | 319965 | 7199 | 14599 | ||
| CoinPoker | 45 | 895 | 48 | 81 | Play Now | |
| PokerStars | 1900 | 55540 | 1555 | 3314 | ||
| WPT Global | 2200 | 2274 | 1022 | 3543 | Play Now | |
| PartyPoker | 600 | 390 | 1120 | |||
| 888poker | 350 | 203 | 668 |
Reviews of Poker Sites Available in Australia for September 2024
What are the best online poker sites Australia has to offer? Based on countless hours of bets, bluffs, and bad beats, these five sites have impressed us the most.
1. CoinPoker – Best Overall Online Poker Site in Australia
Poker Network License Payout Speed
Independent Curaçao eGaming Within 24 hours
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – From Hold’em cash games and MTTs to Jackpot Cosmic Spins SNGs start at ₮0.25, CoinPoker has plenty of action for everyone. However, this is the best site for Omaha when it comes to online poker real money in Australia.
- Poker Tournaments 9/10 – If you’re a newbie, CoinPoker is one of the best free online poker sites in Australia, thanks to a selection of daily freerolls. For everyone else, there is $600,000 worth of MTT prizes to play for every Sunday.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – CoinPoker is an independent poker site, which means it has a completely unique player base.
- Software Quality 10/10 – In addition to an impressive aesthetic and customizable tables, CoinPoker is one of the best online poker Australia sites because of its blockchain software.
- Betting Limits and Payments 10/10 – CoinPoker makes crypto gaming accessible to the masses with table limits starting at ₮0.02/₮0.05.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – You can enjoy some of the best online poker in Australia wherever you are in the country thanks to CoinPoker’s Android app.
Using blockchain technology, CoinPoker is a crypto-only platform that is completely decentralized.
All personal details are kept safe and payments are processed quickly and anonymously, meaning you can use CoinPoker anywhere in the world. Payments in ₮ is USDT which is equal to USD.
There’s access to a strong selection of Hold’em, Omaha, and 5-Card Omaha cash games, as well as 33% rakeback. In addition, you can dabble in bounty tournaments.
Throw in a selection of daily freerolls, and you’ve got a fantastic site for online poker Australia with cutting-edge technology.
Read our CoinPoker review to learn more about the platform.
Pros
- Anonymous software and payments
- Uses innovative blockchain technology
- 33% rakeback
- Great selection of cash games
Cons
- Doesn’t offer Stud or Draw
- No fiat currencies
2. Ignition Casino – Top AU Online Poker Site for Juicy Games
Poker Network License Payout Speed
PaiWangLuo Poker Curaçao eGaming Within 48 hours
- Poker Games Variety 7.5/10 – Ignition only offers Hold’em and Omaha, but the games are extremely soft.
- Poker Tournaments 9/10 – Ignition has special freerolls for crypto depositors, as well as $2 million in weekly MTT guarantees.
- Traffic and Player Base 10/10 – Ignition is easily one of the best online poker sites in Australia for fishy games.
- Software Quality 9/10 – Ignition’s software is reliable and offers a bunch of unique features, including anonymous tables.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – You might struggle to find games at the highest stakes, but you’ll never be short of cash game action at $1/$2 and below.
- Mobile Friendliness 8/10 – Customizable and anonymous table settings make up for the fact you can only access Ignition via an optimized mobile site.
Ignition Poker has some of the softest cash games, and compared to other online poker sites available in Australia, there are noticeably more gamblers at the tables.
That’s down to the fact that Ignition has an online casino packed with slots and table games.
To make things even better, Ignition Poker has anonymous tables, so you can exploit weak players undetected.
There are limited games to choose from when you get above $1/$2, but those wanting bigger prizes have $2 million worth of MTT guarantees to shoot for.
One important thing to note is that you must utilize a VPN to access this offshore platform and play at Iggy online poker Australia.
Read our Ignition Poker review to learn more about the site.
Pros
- Softest games in Australia
- $2 million worth of MTT guarantee
- Juicy freerolls
- Anonymous tables
Cons
- Weekly withdrawals limit
- You need to use a VPN
3. ACR Poker – Best Online Poker Australia Site for MTTs
Poker Network License Payout Speed
Winning Poker Network (WPN) Costa Rica Within 48 hours
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – Stud sits alongside Hold’em and Omaha to ensure you’ve got plenty of access to juicy cash games and tournaments.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – ACR is one of the best online poker sites in Australia when it comes to guaranteed tournaments. The weekly schedule was already impressive, but it got better in 2024 with a 13% increase in guaranteed prizepools.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – ACR is available in multiple countries, including Australia, so you’ll have a whole world of players to compete against.
- Software Quality 7.5/10 – ACR has been the victim of minor cyberattacks in the past. But its developers have learned from these incidents, and now, the platform is more secure than ever for online poker Australia real money.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – We’ve never struggled to find games at all stakes, and making payments is easy thanks to fiat and cryptocurrency options.
- Mobile Friendliness: 9/10 – ACR would get 10/10 in the mobile department if it had an iOS app (instead of a mobile site) to go along with its Android app.
There’s no better online poker site in Australia for multi-table tournaments (MTTs) than ACR Poker. You can play for $10.6 million in guaranteed prize money every week.
Add to this a 37% increase in low-stakes MTTs, as well as the annual Venom series with over $12 million in guarantees.
So, if you want to play poker tournaments online in Australia, ACR should be your first choice.
Pros
- Revamped MTT schedule in 2024
- $12.5 million Venom main event
- Crypto and fiat deposits
- Native Android app
Cons
- No iOS app
- Need to use a VPN
4. Black Chip Poker – Top Online Poker Site in Australia for Fun Features
Poker Network License Payout Speed
Winning Poker Network (WPN) Curaçao eGaming Within 48 hours
- Poker Games Variety 9/10 – Black Chip has popular poker variants, minus 5 Card Draw which many of the best online poker sites in Australia do not offer. In addition to being known for its Stud games, Black Chip also has all-in or fold cash games and bomb pot tables, which juice up the pot before cards are dealt.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – With $12.5 million guaranteed tournaments such as Venom, Black Chip Poker cements its place as one of the top-rated online poker sites in Australia.
- Traffic and Player Base 9/10 – The Winning Poker Network has built up a sizeable playerpool of experienced and notice players since it launched in 2001.
- Software Quality 7.5/10 – Black Chip Poker’s website design is pretty basic with no notable stand-outs but offers straightforward navigation. Plus, the underlying software is safe and reliable.
- Betting Limits and Payments 8/10 – With fiat and crypto payment options, as well as plenty of low and mid-stakes action, Black Chip is ideal with all kinds of budgets for playing online poker Australia real money.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – Like ACR Poker, Black Chip Poker offers an Android app and mobile web browser for convenience. It still needs to develop an iOS mobile app to get full ratings.
Black Chip has been a great place to play WSOP qualifiers over the years. The packages are generous, and we enjoyed trying to spin a few dollars into a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat.
You can also read our Black Chip Poker review to learn more.
Despite sharing a network with ACR, Black Chip’s interface isn’t as slick. While we like its old-school vibe, some people may prefer a more modern look.
Pros
- Great place to play satellites
- Accepts deposits in 50+ cryptos
- 27% rakeback rate
- Innovative features, including bomb pots
Cons
- Need a VPN to access
- Design needs an update
5. BetOnline Poker – Best Poker Site in Oz for Freebies
Poker Network License Payout Speed
Chico Poker Panama Gaming Commission Within 48 hours
- Poker Games Variety 8/10 – There are plenty of freerolls, MTTs, and SNGs at BetOnline Online Poker Australia, but the cash games stand out due to the Bad Beat Jackpot.
- Poker Tournaments 10/10 – The MTT lobby is packed with daily freerolls, and the weekend schedule has plenty of majors with guarantees topping $100,000.
- Traffic and Player Base 8/10 – BetOnline’s cash games and tournaments benefit from the platform’s burgeoning casino and sports.
- Software Quality 10/10 – It’s hard to fault BetOnline’s software because other Aussie poker sites can’t compete with its novel features, such as straddles and all-in cashouts.
- Betting Limits and Payments 9/10 – BetOnline offers fiat and crypto payments, so you’ll always have guaranteed ways to make safe payments in Australia.
- Mobile Friendliness 9/10 – Scanning a QR makes it easy to download its slick mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
Despite sports betting being its forte, BetOnline has created an impressive poker platform that’s ideal for Aussies with its top features and functionality.
While cash games above $2/$4 are sparse, you can straddle in and insure yourself against bad beats. The $100,000+ bad beat jackpot is a nice touch, as it is the weekly $3 million MTT schedule.
Pros
- $3 million in weekly MTT guarantees
- Free MTT ticket bonuses
- Crypto and fiat payment options
- Novel cash game features
Cons
- You need a VPN
- Bonus terms could be better
Picking the Best Online Poker Site in Australia for You
The best online poker Australia has to offer is just a click away. We’ve tried dozens of poker platforms and given you our top five poker sites in Australia.
Think about things you like in light of the information provided and assess the poker sites available in Australia using the following criteria:
Only use poker sites if they’re licensed, regulated, and safe. All of our recommended Australian online poker rooms are licensed by organizations that have been around for more than 20 years.
Along with a recognized gambling license, look for extra security features, such as data encryption, anonymous crypto payments, and blockchain-based software.
You’re not going to win 100% of the time when you play real money online poker in Australia.
That’s why you need to use sites that offer a variety of promotions, including rakeback or loyalty rewards.
You might want to play online cash poker in Australia or play tournaments. Whatever your preferences, a high-quality poker site should cater to them.
In addition to offering Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud games across all formats, look for sites with suitable betting limits.
CoinPoker and Ignition Poker have excellent low and mid-stakes games, but there aren’t as many tables running at higher stakes. ACR and Black Chip have more high-stakes games running throughout the week.
Therefore, it’s a case of finding Aussie poker sites with games running at the stakes you play for.
The easiest way to win money in online poker Australia is by finding weak players. It doesn’t matter if you’re the 10th-best player in the world. You’ll lose in the long run if you always play against the top 9.
Poker sites with casinos and sportsbooks, such as Ignition, tend to have the weakest players. Why? Because a lot of gamblers cross over from the casino or sportsbook without really knowing how to play poker.
It is super important to use poker sites with safe and efficient payment systems. Cryptocurrencies are the best way for Aussies to make online poker deposits and withdrawals.
Popular Games for Online Poker Australia
Poker is played in different ways, with Hold’em being the most popular game represented on TV and in films. However, the best sites for real money poker Australia offer many more variants.
Some games are missing from the current line-up, specifically Draw poker. If you want to play poker online for real money in Australia, the following variants are available.
Texas Hold’em
Everyone starts their poker journey at a Texas Hold’em table because the basics are easy to master. There are subtle nuances that make Hold’em extremely engaging which we cover below.
Here’s a quick overview of how to play Texas Hold’em poker online Australia:
- Players receive two hole cards.
- Five community cards are dealt over three betting rounds.
- Players have to make the best five-card hand or win pots uncontested.
- Players can use both, one, or none of their hole cards to make a hand.
- Hold’em can be played with Limit, Pot Limit, or No Limit betting structures.
Hold’em is used for cash games and tournaments. The best poker sites in Australia have tables suitable for low-stakes players ($1 or less), mid-level grinders ($1 to $200), and high rollers ($200+).
Outside of the digital arena, Hold’em is the format used for the world’s biggest live events, including the WSOP Main Event, WPT World Championship, and Aussie Millions.
The latest innovation to take hold is 6+ Hold’em. Also known as Short Deck, this Hold’em spinoff doesn’t contain any cards lower than a six. This makes certain hands harder to make, which, in turn, generates more action.
Of all the top-rated poker sites, BetOnline Online Poker Australia is the only one offering 6+ Hold’em at the moment.
The Best Australian Poker Site for Hold’em: ACR Poker
Omaha
Omaha is the game of choice for action-players. In fact, if we’re forced to choose between Hold’em and Omaha, we’d have to opt for the latter because it’s more exciting.
Here’s how to play Omaha at Australian online poker sites:
- Players receive four hole cards.
- Five community cards are dealt over three rounds.
- Players are aiming to make the best five-card hand (with exactly two hole cards and three community cards) or make everyone fold.
- Omaha is typically played using a Pot Limit format.
Omaha is more volatile than Hold’em, Stud, and Draw because you receive four hole cards.
This, along with the fact that you must use two of your hold cards, increases the number of hand combinations and chances for hands to get counterfeited. So, hands such as one pair are less likely to win a showdown in Omaha than Hold’em.
Increasing the number of variables makes Omaha a harder game to master from a strategic perspective, but it also creates more action and entertainment.
Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), also known as Omaha Hi, is the main variant. However, there is a variant known as Omaha Hi/Lo.
Unlike PLO, where the highest-ranking hands win, Omaha Hi/Lo splits the pot. 50% goes to the best high-ranking hand, while the other 50% goes to the best low-ranking hand. A qualifying low hand consists of five unpaired cards ranked eight or lower.
Finally, you can also play 5 Card Omaha at CoinPoker Online Poker Australia. This variant has the same rules as standard PLO, the only difference being that you get five hole cards instead of four.
The Best Poker Online Australia Site for Omaha: CoinPoker
Stud
Stud is a classic variant that was popular before the 2003 poker boom made Hold’em the dominant format.
When it comes to playing online poker in Australia for real money, Stud probably won’t be your game of choice because it’s not hugely popular.
That being said, two of the best online poker sites in Australia, ACR and Black Chip, have juicy Stud games that we recommend trying.
Here’s a quick overview of how to play 7 Card Stud poker:
- Players can receive a total of seven cards.
- Three player cards are dealt face-down, and four are dealt face-up.
- There are no community cards in Stud.
- Players can win by making the best five-card hand or making everyone else fold.
- Stud can be played with Limit or Pot Limit betting structures.
Stud Poker is all about observations and awareness, because you have to not only take note of your own cards but the cards everyone else is showing.
Unlike community card variants such as Hold’em, dealt cards can disappear when players fold. When folding, players throw their cards face-down to hide them from the rest of the table and not influence their hand.
You can’t make optimal decisions if you don’t take note of other people’s cards before they fold. That’s why 7 Card Stud strategy relies on how observant you are.
Like Omaha, 7 Card Stud can be played straight (ie the highest value hands win) or Hi/Lo.
The Best Australian Poker Site for Stud: Black Chip Poker
How to Play Real Money Poker in Australia
Real money poker in Australia is just a few taps away. The steps below apply to CoinPoker, but the registration processes at other online poker sites in Oz are virtually identical.
- Use our link to claim your bonus.
- Tap “Register” on the CoinPoker homepage.
- Enter your email, screen name, and password. Hit “Sign Up.”
- Download the CoinPoker app and log in.
- Tap the “Wallet” icon.
- Choose a cryptocurrency and transfer coins to your CoinPoker wallet.
- Go to the poker lobby and filter tables by “Games,” “Buy-In,” and “Seats.”
- Open a table and ante up.
Australia Online Poker Bonuses
Playing poker online in Australia is entertaining and can be potentially profitable, especially if you know how to take advantage of poker bonuses.
The most lucrative online poker Australia real money bonuses are:
Also known as welcome bonuses, these poker promotions are reserved for new players, and they’re often the biggest ones you’ll get at all online poker sites.
Assuming you’re eligible and comply with the wagering requirements, you can claim bonus credits and free tournament tickets from the best online poker sites in Australia.
At the time of writing this Australia online poker guide, CoinPoker was offering new players a first deposit match. For something a little different, BetOnline Online Poker Australia was supplementing its deposit bonus with free tournament tickets.
The way to play free online poker in Australia is freerolls.
These tournaments don’t have an entry fee, but the top finishers win cash prizes. That means you’re able to turn something into nothing with zero risk.
It’s worth checking out Ignition Poker if you want to play freerolls. This Australian poker online site gives away $2,500 in freeroll prize money every week.
You pay a small fee each time you enter tournaments and play cash game pots. This fee is known as rake.
The good news is that Australia’s leading poker sites give you some of this money back. Known as rakeback, these rebates are based on the amount of rake you pay.
For example, if you play real money online poker in Australia at CoinPoker and hold CHP tokens, you’ll receive 33% rakeback. So, if you raked $1,000, you’d get a $333 rebate.
When you haven’t got access to rakeback, loyalty rewards are the best way to unlock ongoing value when you play online poker in Australia for real money.
Similar to rakeback, online poker real money bonuses are based on the amount you play. In this context, points are accumulated based on the amount you rake.
These points determine your VIP status and unlock bonuses, such as free tournament tickets.
If you’re a fan of loyalty rewards and want something extra when you play online poker Australia for real money, check out BetOnline’s VIP program.
Banking for Online Poker in Australia
Can I play online poker in Australia for real money? Yes, but only if you’ve got ways to make deposits and withdrawals.
Cryptocurrencies
CoinPoker is the leading cryptocurrency online poker site in the world. It accepts a variety of tokens, including Bitcoin and Tether (USDT).
The benefit of crypto payments is that they’re fast, decentralized, and anonymous. This makes them ideal for playing online poker Australia and other countries with unclear laws or a lack of local regulations.
Card Payments
The majority of poker players around the world make deposits and withdrawals via credit or debit cards. It’s the way things have been for over 20 years, and Visa et al are likely to remain popular for the foreseeable future.
BetOnline is the best poker site in Australia for credit and debit card payments. However, it’s worth noting that local regulations may decline Visa, MasterCard, and other card transactions.
Bank Transfers
Bank transfers are the best way to make large online poker real money Australia withdrawals other than cryptocurrencies. The average processing time for bank transfers is up to 10 days, which is slower than debit cards (3-5 days), ewallets (1-2 days), and cryptocurrencies (instant).
Australian banks might decline transactions to online poker sites because of local gambling laws.
Can I Play Poker Online in Australia with AUD?
No. In most cases, you’ll make deposits in USD or a cryptocurrency.
Making USD deposits and withdrawals for online poker Australia can incur currency conversion charges, which is why we recommend cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin, USDT, Ethereum, and other cryptos are universal. Transfers take place on peer-to-peer blockchains that aren’t linked to specific countries, banks, or centralized authorities.
This means you can use the same currency as people in the UK, France, Canada, Malaysia, and anywhere else in the world.
The other benefits of using cryptocurrencies to play poker online in Australia are that transactions can be processed instantly and they’re anonymous. That’s why all of the best poker sites in Australia have crypto payment.
Poker in Australia
One of the most common questions you may want to know about poker online in Australia relates to regulation. Specifically, can you play legal online poker in Australia? It’s a tricky question to answer, but here are the facts.
Yes, it’s possible to play online poker Australia. The Interactive Gaming Act references online poker when it describes prohibited activities. However, the onus is on operators rather than players.
The implication here is that players aren’t the ones targeted by the Act. It’s also worth noting that Australian authorities don’t have jurisdiction overseas.
Offshore poker sites such as CoinPoker are based outside of Australia and, therefore, don’t report to the ACT Racing and Gambling Commission.
Not if you use offshore sites to play real money poker online in Australia.
As offshore poker rooms don’t report to local authorities, they will not pass any financial data to the Australian Taxation Office.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
Australia has been a force in poker for decades. When you look at the number of big winners on a per capita basis, Aussies are right up there with powerhouse poker nations like the UK, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Success breeds success, so take inspiration from the following names and what they’ve achieved in real money poker Australia.
- Joe Hachem – The Aussie online poker real money scene exploded in 2005 thanks to Joe Hachem. The man from Melbourne won the 2005 WSOP Main Event for $7.5 million and put Australian poker on the map.
- Michael Addamo – Regarded as one of the best high roller tournament players in the world, Addamo has notched up $22.5 million in live earnings and won WSOP, EPT, and Triton titles.
- Kahle Burns – Burns has been the one player who has pushed Michael Addamo hardest over the last decade. He’s won $13.2 million in live tournaments, including Triton, WSOPE, and Aussie Millions titles.
- Jeff Lisandro – Jeff Lisandro is an old-school grinder who was a force throughout the poker boom, having earned the 2009 WSOP Player of the Year title after winning a record-tying three bracelets that summer. He remains active today with over $5.8 million in live earnings.
- James Obst – Every country has its poker prodigies. The US has Tom Dwan, the UK has Chris Moorman, and Australia has James Obst. An internet sensation who’s also notched up $4 million in live earnings, Obst has savant-like reading abilities.
Conclusion
It’s quite simple to play online poker real money if you’re based in Australia.
You can enjoy everything the best online poker sites in Australia have to offer in terms of games, promotions, and fancy features.
From rakeback and free tournament tickets to satellites, soft games, and anonymous payments, there’s something for every Aussie.
FAQs – Online Poker in Australia for Real Money
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References
- https://www.curacao-egaming.com/ (Curaçao eGaming)
- https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/cryptocurrencies.html (How Cryptocurrencies Work)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjaW-lQz6W4&ab_channel=PokerGO (YouTube – Joe Hachem)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvWhhxwJYls&ab_channel=PokerGO (YouTube – Michael Addamo)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrOoy6TQ5k4&ab_channel=PartyPokerTV (YouTube – Kahle Burns)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTRtNOEzceQ&ab_channel=praiospoker (YouTube – Jeff Lisandro)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLuhJQdEMcY&ab_channel=PokerGO (YouTube – James Obst)