The community of online casinos and poker in Australia has several key advantages over land-based counterparts, such as poker bonuses, poker tournaments, video poker and more. Poker itself has long been popular with Australian players, going back to the 1950s with house games. Then, of course, it got another popularity boom with the rise of brick-and-mortar casinos.

However, playing poker online in Australia is simply easier and more convenient than going to an actual casino. There are many benefits of playing real money poker or free poker online at a poker room, especially at an Australian online casino.

If you are interested in playing online poker in Australia but aren’t sure what to look for in a poker room, check out our recommended list of the best online poker sites for Australian players. Our online gambling experts break down what the best poker sites offer Australian players.

How to Pick an Online Poker Site in Australia

Many Australian players’ entry to online poker starts by using the poker machines online. Online casinos and free pokies sites are filled with video poker games that offer huge progressive jackpots. These games are similar to playing slot machines.

One of the benefits of playing video poker is the free spins and exclusive bonuses worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Something never seen at live poker sites. This also helps players become familiar with poker strategy and terminology.

Starting up an online poker account is similar to setting up a real money online casino account and that’s just another way of saying it’s fast and secure. But what are some of the other things to consider when picking an Australian poker site?

Bonuses and Promotions

Free money is a common way top poker sites try and recruit new players. Almost every poker room offers a generous welcome bonus to new players upon their first deposit. Generally, this is a match deposit up to a certain amount.

Other poker promotions to look for include free rolls, bad beat bonuses, loyalty programs, rakeback, and free entry to poker tournaments. In the last few years Bitcoin has increasingly become a popular banking option and some poker rooms offer special promotions for Bitcoin users.

Software

Generally, the best online poker in Australia provides players two options. You can download software from the poker site or play instantly in your browser. It’s good to check the quality of a poker room and the software features offered to its players.

The software gameplay is also important. How easy is it to navigate around the site? What kind of tools do they offer players? It’s also a good idea to check the license and who regulates the poker rooms software. Not being licensed isn’t necessarily a deal breaker but it is something Australian poker players should look a little further into.

Player Traffic

Another key to an online poker site is the overall player traffic it receives, after all if there aren’t enough real money players coming to the site to play poker, what’s the point? You could be stuck waiting longer than necessary for games to start.

If there is a solid amount of player traffic during hours convenient to your poker schedule than you know this will be a good site for you. If not, you’re only going to grow frustrated as you wait for tables to fill up.

Customer Support

If you are new to online gambling it’s only natural that you’re going to have some questions. A very important factor in any poker site is their customer support options.

There are four main ways sites answer these types of questions and you will generally find at least two of these options available. There’s generally an e-mail support, toll-free telephone number, live chat and/or a frequently asked questions section on the site.

Safety & Security

There’s a few tell tale signs at online casinos that users can look out for when determining whether the platform is safe and secure to use.

The first thing to check is whether the site has a licence, with Curacao being one of the most common ones. Secondly, check that the casino uses at least 128-Bit SSL encryption and offers a variety of popular banking methods.

Variety of Games

What makes a good poker site? One that offers a variety of different games and at least has a full suite of different poker games on offer as well. When a casino offers variety, you are bound to find a suitable table, regardless of your skill level, and betting preference.

For this reason, it’s best to choose only the poker rooms with the most diverse poker offerings.

Mobile Support

If you’re the type of person who likes to have a good poker game available to you at all times, then you know how important it is to find a site that offers mobile poker. The great thing about the sites on our list is that they are all compatible with both iOS and Android devices, so you’ll never be left out of a game again.

Some of these sites even have their own native poker app, which is becoming the new trend in online poker. These apps can be found on the operator’s website or in the Google Play or App Store, and they offer all the same features as the desktop client.

Banking Options

When it comes to banking, we believe that the more options, the merrier. That’s why we’re big fans of poker sites that offer multiple deposit and withdrawal methods. After all, what’s the point of offering a service if it’s not accessible to everyone? The best Australian poker sites understand this and offer their services on various devices — including mobile.

And when it comes to fees and processing times, we believe that less is more. Most of our recommended brands are fee-free and facilitate rapid payments. So regardless of the chosen method, you can expect to see your hard-earned cash in your bank account within days. Now that’s what we call service!

Top Online Poker Casinos

Casino Bonus Offer Number of Games Payout Speed VIP Program Minimum Deposit Visit Site
King Johnnie Up to $6000 1,500+ 3-5 Business Days ✔️ $10 Play now
Casinonic Up to $5,000 1,700+ Instant to 7 days $20 Play now
Ignition Poker Up to $1,000 300+ Instant - 3 days $10 Play now

How To Play Poker

Different poker variations exist, but the basics remain the same. Poker is played using a standard deck of 52 cards, usually without jokers (though variants certainly exist that use jokers as well). The object of the game is to either be the last person remaining in the hand (by getting everyone else to fold their hands) or to win at showdown by having the strongest hand of the remaining players.

  • The two players to the left of the dealer will have to post bets before the hand even begins. These bets, known as the blinds, are set by the stakes of the game.
  • Once the blinds are in, all players will receive their initial starting hands with two cards face down. Betting proceeds clockwise around the table, with each player being able to choose between fold, call and raise.
  • After a few rounds, the remaining players show their cards, and the player with the best five-card hand – using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards – wins the pot.
  • In the case of an exact tie, the tied players will split the pot evenly. After the hand, the button moves one seat to the left and a new hand begins.
Poker dealer

The Best Online Poker Tips

  • Playing low stakes poker: This allows you to get familiar with the poker site without the stress of worrying about your bankroll.

 

  • Maximise the welcome bonus or any other casino bonuses: It’s worth doing a little extra research and finding out which sites have the best bonus offers and what the terms and conditions are.

 

  • Prepare for long sessions and avoid any distractions: This is common sense but worth pointing out, if you plan on playing a lot of online poker you need to be patient. You only want to play the best hands and sometimes that requires waiting.
poker hand royal flush in diamonds

Poker Variants and Tournaments

There are numerous online poker games which are difficult to find in live casinos mixed between casino games and online pokies. And this is main benefits to online poker. There simply isn’t enough square footage in a casino poker room to match the variety of offerings at an online poker site. Here is a quick rundown of the poker variations Australians can find at poker rooms.

 

texas holdem winning hand and chips

The so-called “Cadillac of Poker,” Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of poker in the world. Players each receive two cards, and can use up to five community cards to form the best possible hand. While the community cards are face-up and can be used by all players, your two “hole cards” will be face down – only you will know what they are, and only you may use them to make a hand.

 

Omaha Hold'em hand and chips

Omaha is similar to Texas Hold’em, except players receive four cards and must use exactly two of them in making their final hand, plus three of the five community cards. This game is also largely popular, especially in pot-limit format. Obviously, Omaha poker strategy will be a little different from Texas Hold’em. The game rewards patience and good strategy more than patience.

Seven card stud poker with cards and chips

Once the gold standard of poker, Seven Card Stud has fallen somewhat out of fashion since the rise of Texas Hold’em poker. However, there are still plenty who enjoy this poker format and play this title and it is still largely offered at the biggest sites. In this poker variation each player receives seven of their own cards (three face down cards only viewable to the individual player, and four face up cards, for everyone to see) to make a hand.

Razz poker chips and playing cards

In a nutshell, this fun poker variant Razz Poker, is Seven Card Stud “in reverse,” where the goal is to come up with the lowest hand possible. Razz can be played with two to eight players. Like seven-card stud, it does not involve a flop (like Hold’em or Omaha) nor any community cards. It’s especially important for poker players to learn if they plan to play HORSE, since it is one of the games that make up that multi-variant tournament format.

 

Five Card Draw Poker Hand laying on table

Australian poker players receive hands completely hidden from the rest of the table. And have at least one chance to exchange – or draw – more cards. There are several variations based on what kind of hand players are trying to make, as well as the number of draws allowed. Five-card draw (also known as a Cantrell draw) is a poker variant that is considered the simplest variant of poker.

 

stack of poker chips on the table

A true test of any poker players skills. A mixed game is one in which several forms of poker are played on a constant cycle. The most common of these is HORSE. It’s a multi-game form of poker commonly played at the high-stakes tables of casinos and in tournaments. HORSE is actually an acronym describing a combination of five poker games; Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Razz, Stud and Eight-or-better.

Different Forms Of Poker Betting

No-Limit Poker

These poker games allow bets of any size each round, so long as they are at least the size of the minimum bet and/or the last bet placed in the current round. Players can bet their entire stack at any time. This is commonly referred to as ‘All-In’.

Pot-Limit Poker

In pot-limit poker games, players may make bets or raises equal to the size of the pot. This allows for large wagers, but does not allow people to simply move all-in at the beginning of a hand.

Fixed Limit Poker

Also known simply as limit, these poker games allow only a specific size of bet each betting round, increasing by set increments every round.

Value Bet

There are typically two reasons for betting in poker. You’re either betting to get your opponent to fold (bluffing), or you’re betting because you have what you believe is the best hand and want them to call. The latter scenario describes what’s known as a value bet.

How Can I Process Deposits Into Poker Sites?

There are several different methods Australian poker players can use to make online gambling deposits. For instance, major credit cards are widely accepted at online poker sites. Another popular option for Australian players is Bitcoin.

All the platforms we recommend offer the most reputable and popular options for making deposits and withdrawals. Deposits are usually instant and depending on the casino, require a minimum deposit ranging between $10 and $20. Some poker sites and banking methods do charge a fee, so it’s best to double check so you are fully aware of any extra charges being made.

Making a deposit is a fairly simple process and doesn’t take too much time. Once you are registered at an online casino, head to the cashier section and find the deposit button. You will then be presented with a list of available deposit payment options. Select your preferred method, add in your financial information and verify your identity and input the amount you would like to deposit.

Can I Win Real Money in Online Poker

Real money play is an important part of the online poker world. While most online poker sites offer players the option of competing in free poker games, real money poker is the most exciting and authentic way to play online poker. Much of the strategic depth which makes online poker a fun and interesting game can only be realised when players bet real money and have something invested in the game.

While playing for real money might seem scary, it’s also the main way in which you can win big at online poker. In both game play and tournaments, online poker sites regularly award real money prizes to their players. On rare occasions poker operators offer freeroll tournaments where it is possible to win real money without gambling any of your own bankroll.

poker cards, chips and Australian money

Mobile Poker Online Australia

Advantages

One of the main advantages of playing online poker is the convenience and what’s more convenient than being able to play on your mobile. When looking to play poker online in Australia you want to make sure your poker site has the option to link your account to your mobile. This is generally very easy these days as most online poker operators know of the demand for mobile poker. And make the technology available to players on all operating systems.

Accessible On Different Operators

Whether you are an apple or android user, online poker rooms have made mobile poker assessable. In some cases, it might require downloading a poker app. In other cases, you can play directly through your online browser. Once a poker player has registered they can access their account on a mobile or tablet. And have access to all the same bonuses and banking options.

Downloadable Apps

If you decide to use an online poker app, you will have the same access. If you are an apple or android user simply head over to your respective App Store and download your poker rooms app. There are a variety of free and real money poker apps available so it might take some sorting to find the right app.

Good Connection

One of the most important factors to consider when playing online poker in Australia on mobile is your WIFI connection. You want to be connected to a strong WIFI signal. And if you are playing mobile poker using a data plan you want to keep an eye on how much data you are using.

Glossary of Poker Terms

Poker term Description
All-In A bet that places all of a player’s chips into the pot.
Blind A forced wager placed by players on the left of the dealer. If you are one of the blinds, you are sitting either immediately to the left of the dealer button (small blind position) or one position farther left (big blind).
Bluff When you lie about how good your cards are, in order to throw other players off.
Call To contribute the minimum amount of money to the pot necessary to continue playing a hand.
Check When no wager is made and the action moves to the next player on the left.
Chip The tokens on the table that represent a certain value or dollar amount.
Down to the felt Out of chips.
Fold To close your hand and forfeit the round.
Slow Play When you believe you have cards good enough to win and try to lure other poker players in to increasing the pot by playing a slow hand.
Wild A card that is capable of standing in for other cards to create a winning combination.

Online Poker Australia FAQs

Back to top