Do you want to know what some of the top Australian online poker sites are? In this guide, we will look at the gambling sites from Down Under that provide exciting online tournaments in 2024. Whether you are a skilled gamer looking for an additional challenge or a rookie wishing to learn something new, you will be spoiled for choice with the abundance of varieties available for every skill level. Use this guide to read about Australian poker sites where you can join in live tournaments or discover various video poker games. From well-established casinos to newly emerging platforms, we will introduce you to the top gaming spots for Australian players.
PokerStars
PokerStars is a big brand with a global reach operated by TSG Interactive Gaming Europe Limited. It’s licensed in Malta and certified by Gaming Labs, which means it is regulated using European standards.
They host dozens of tournaments across different formats and basically cater to all poker fans out there. However, make sure you read the instructions before you join. Each format has slightly different rules, and they impact player decision-making. As one of the top Australian online poker sites, PokerStars has full coverage when it comes to variants of the game:
- Hold’em
- Omaha Hi/Lo
- 5 and 6 Card Omaha
- 7 Card Stud
These are but a few examples, as there are 15 different formats across these variants. It should be noted though that Aussies can only play for free here. Participating in real-money tournaments isn’t possible for Australian players.
SwC Poker
For anyone who wants to gamble using Bitcoin, this is one of the best poker sites in Australia. You can access tournaments through a web app, or download the application for Android, iOS, and Windows.
What’s so great about this site is that you can actually play anonymously. After all, you are using Bitcoin to make deposits here. As far as tournaments go, they are constantly held. In fact, you can see the schedule right on the home page and immediately apply if you wish to do so. Once again various formats are available, and you’ll find a tournament to your liking regardless of the preferred poker variant or whether you are a high roller or not.
Players can also receive promos for 2 Thursday tournaments, and look forward to potential bonus prizes. Additionally, pay attention to blog posts and announcements to find out when the next big championship competition is going to take place.
CoinPoker
Another one of the Australian poker sites that leverages blockchain technology. Unlike SwC, CoinPoker accepts Tether or USDT and uses it as the main gambling currency. They host daily Signature Tournaments as well as Freebuys and Freerolls tournaments where you can participate for free.
Of course, you can also apply for big Satellite competitions and for fast-paced turbo tournaments. Just for the heads up, you will need to have a crypto-wallet in order to make deposits and withdrawals at CoinPoker. But, it’s really worth the trouble as this operator is packed with daily and weekly promos. As far as poker variations go, the site hosts Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha games.
Australian Laws on Online Poker
According to the Interactive Gambling Act, it’s illegal for businesses to host online poker tournaments for real money. In fact, playing real money online poker has been banned in 2017. Brands like 888poker and partypoker have left Australia because of the ban and PokerStars only allows free-to-play mode. So, if you wish to play in Australian casinos you will need to apply for tournaments that are held in brick-and-mortar gambling establishments.
However, free-to-play Australian poker sites are perfectly legal. Aussies are also allowed to play on offshore sites or crypto platforms that host poker tournaments. You can download the suggested apps and start playing right away. What’s more, it’s even possible to compete anonymously, because the payouts aren’t processed through legacy banking networks.
Conclusion
These are some of the best online poker sites available in Australia. However, if you prefer a more relaxed version of the game, you can always try playing video poker at online casinos. It has one of the lowest house edges, and you don’t have to compete with others. So, it’s understandable why many Aussies enjoy it. Hopefully, you found the info here useful. Make the most of the active tournaments, and brush up on your poker strategies to make sure you come on top.