Sydney: 2024's Top Online Poker Sites

Check out our list of the best-rated Australian poker sites that welcome players from Sydney with open arms and will let you deposit in AUD.

Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Avatar Author Adrian Sterne
Fact checked by Dusan Jovanovic
Online Poker: Sydney
State: New South Wales
Population: 5,312,163
Gambling Age: 18
Online Poker: Illegal but can take part via licensed offshore brands
Online Gambling: Partly Legal
Regulatory Body: Liquor & Gaming NSW

Are you a part of the majority of Australians who love a punt? If so, there’s a good chance that you enjoy playing poker as well. But before you start dropping money onto just about any online casino that you get your hands on, make sure to read this comprehensive guide.

Aussies are known as the world’s most prolific gamblers, and that’s a fact of life. For centuries, they have enjoyed gambling activities in venues across the country, and poker has always been up there among the most sought-after casino games.

With the advent of the Internet, poker tournaments and cash games have become available to everyone. The best part? You don’t have to travel long distances to enjoy your favorite casino game — you have everything you need at your fingertips!

While online gambling undoubtedly has many benefits, it also carries certain risks, most of which are security-related. Simply put, there are countless gambling sites, and not all of them can be trusted.

But don’t worry, there are people whose sole job is to scout out all the online casinos and single out the best candidates, the ones that can be trusted.

These casino industry experts happen to work here, alongside me, and today, we’re going to show you which are the most legitimate and trustworthy poker sites for residents of the Harbour City.

It’s also of paramount importance that you familiarize yourself with the legal aspects of gambling in Australia, which is why we’ll start things off by talking about the laws pertaining to playing poker, both off and online.

We’ll mention some of the things you’re going to learn once you’re done reading this article:

Buckle up, we’re in for a bumpy ride!

Best Online Poker Rooms in Sydney

As an avid poker player myself, I like playing the game on every chance I get. And while live cash games are undoubtedly thrilling, nothing beats playing poker from the comfort of my own home.

As I’m sure many of you share my thoughts on this, I asked my iGaming expert team that knows the industry inside out to help me track down the safest poker sites for the residents of Sydney. You can check out the results of their investigation below.

My list of the best poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2024:
  • 100% Legal & Licensed
  • Verified Bonus
  • Mobile Friendly
  • Advertiser Disclosure

    Kindly be aware that some links on Top 10 Poker Sites are affiliate links, for which we may earn a commission. Find out more on our terms & conditions

  • Must be 18+ to participate.
crown # 1  Poker Site
Ignition Poker
5
5.0 / 5.0

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by Curacao

  • Increased Poker Crypto Bonus $1500
  • Exclusively for US players
  • Many Payment Options
  • Rich Player Traffic
Payout speed 1-3 days
Deposit options
Mastercard Visa Bitcoin American Express Bitcoin Cash Ethereum +4

Exclusive bonus

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Australia has a long gambling history, dating back to 1810, and New South Wales has since been the focal point of the gambling activities across the country. In fact, the state’s very first lottery and horse racing event was held in Sydney.

As European settlers moved to the NSW area, many naturally brought with them traditions from their home countries, including gambling games. As such, games popular in Europe, such as poker, made their way to the Australian market long before the emergence of online gambling.

So, when the first gambling sites became available to the residents of Sydney, the city already had a strong poker fanbase. However, it was not all roses for Aussies.

Namely, the rise of online gambling within the state led to the increase of active gamblers, which became a public health problem and urged the Federal Government to take action.

In 2001, the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) was passed with a focus on keeping the online gambling industry, thus players themselves, in check. But the IGA was targeted towards the operators, rather than players themselves.

Aussies were still allowed to play at online gambling sites located outside the country. The government showed no interest in going after players and, consequently, numerous offshore sites began offering their services to residents of Sydney and other parts of Australia.

The bottom line — residents of Sydney can register and play poker for real money at poker sites that are located abroad without suffering any legal consequences. We’ve listed the best choices on this page, so feel free to check them out.

Top 3 Poker Sites in Sydney

Not all things are created equal, and the same logic can be applied to poker sites as well. While all the operators above are undoubtedly fantastic in their own regard, we believe that the sites listed below are the absolute best choices for Sydney-based players.

Bonuses
Welcome Bonus:

100% upto $3000

Additional Bonus:

200% upto $1500
Bitcoin Bonus

(New 18+ customers only)
(T&Cs/wagering requirements apply)
Ignition casino poker room is an all-in-one gambling hub that offers a plethora of casino games, including roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and more. There is also a designed poker section where players can participate in cash games and tournaments. And to kickstart your poker adventure in style, Ignition offers you a chance to claim a fantastic welcome bonus.
  • Great selection of low-stakes poker tables
  • Terrific welcome bonus of up to $1,000
  • Accepts players from Sydney
  • Supports numerous payment methods
Bonuses
Welcome Bonus:

100% upto $2000

(New 18+ customers only)
(T&Cs/wagering requirements apply)
Labeled as “America’s largest online poker site”, this is a US-focused poker platform that also accepts Australian players with open arms. Offering tournaments with seven-digit prize pools, Americas Cardroom has what it takes to cater to the needs of every poker aficionado. While you’re at it, we suggest that you take a look at their promotion page — it’s quite astonishing.
  • Mobile-friendly
  • Outstanding promotional lineup
  • Supports over 60 cryptocurrencies
  • Accepts players from Sydney
Bonuses
Welcome Bonus:

200% upto $1000

(New 18+ customers only)
(T&Cs/wagering requirements apply)
If you’re looking for a poker platform tailored for low stakes poker fans, Juicy Stakes might be what the doctor has ordered. All the standard variations are on offer, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha. There is also a fully-equipped casino section with over 350 games — if you ever get bored of poker or you get onto a cold streak.
  • Massive 200% welcome bonus up to $1,000
  • Rewarding rakeback promotions
  • Rapid-fast cash out times
  • Accepts players from Sydney

Best Land-Based Poker Room in Sydney

The Poker Palace, AustraliaPoker players from Sydney are spoilt for choice when it comes to first-class cash games and tournaments.

There are plenty of fantastic options, but the most elite poker room in all of Sydney is, in our estimation, the Poker Palace. 

Located just outside the Star Sydney Casino, Poker Palace was the first poker room to offer poker variations such as Omaha, Hop and Mix Max, as well as high buy-in games.

The Poker Palace is home to Marconi Cup Carnival — a 15-day poker extravaganza with 10 specialty events including the $150 GTD main event.

Poker Palace also hosts the Championship — one of the biggest poker tournaments in Australia. On top of that, there are plenty of weekly tournaments with buy-ins in the range of $250.

Site: thepokerpalace.com.au
Address: 121 Prairie Vale Road, Bossley Park Sydney, Australia
Opened:  2007
Cash Games: Omaha, Texas Hold’em, HOP, HOPS, Shot Clock, Mix Max and Six Max, Hyper Spin Sit and Go’s
Tournaments: The Championships, the Marconi Cup Carnival, weekly tournaments, and more.

How Do We Choose the Best Poker Sites for Players from Sydney?

Plenty of offshore poker sites gladly accept Aussies as customers, but distinguishing which ones are genuinely worthwhile was a challenging task. We had to consider a whole bunch of factors, from games selection and promotions to customer support and banking methods.

But after many hours of research, we pulled it off. But how do we know these are indisputably the best choices?

Let us walk you through our evaluation process, and you’re about to find out!

Poker Room Bonuses

There’s nothing more appealing to poker players than getting free money. All the top poker sites offer massive welcome bonuses for newly registered users. These bonuses, however, vary significantly in size and shape and, naturally, we picked operators offering the highest amount of free cash.

Apart from the welcome bonus, there are numerous other poker promotions as well, including bad beat bonuses, rakeback bonuses, free rolls, and many others. The more promotions a poker site has, the higher it ranks on our exclusive list.

Software and Mobile Platform

The best Australian-friendly poker sites offer its players two options — to access the site via a downloadable client or play instantly through browsers. When evaluating the quality of software of a particular poker site, we look into the usability, functionality, and other technical features.

We believe that a top-notch poker platform should offer most, if not all its features across all platforms, including both desktop and mobile-compatible ones. The mobile version of the site must be a close match in terms of games selection and supported features, and the operators that meet this criteria get an instant recommendation from our team.

Traffic

This is a significant factor to consider when trying to find a first-class poker site. A great poker site should have solid traffic because, if there aren’t enough players coming to the site, then you’re always going to wait for the tables to fill up.

On the flip side to it, if it’s overcrowded, you might get stuck waiting for an eternity to find an open seat at the table. That’s why it’s best to play at a poker site that has a well-balanced traffic, and this is something we give a lot of thought to when scouting for the best choices.

Games Selection

If there’s one thing I learned from a decade-long experience of playing poker and other casino games, it would be that a first-class poker must excel in a games portfolio, both quality and quantity-wise.

In other words, diversity is just as important as quantity. That’s why we look at operators that offer a wide range of poker varieties. Moreover, these games must be adjusted for both casual gamblers and high rollers, as we don’t want any player left behind.

Each of the sites from our list has Hold’em and Omaha readily available, as well as a few other exotic variants. Here, you find tables ranging from as many as $1/$2 and all the way to the highest-stakes tables.

Banking Methods

The poker operators from our page offer an extensive range of banking methods, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. Aussie poker players love to have multiple options at their disposal, and their wishes will be fulfilled at these sites.

However, if a particular poker site supports a vast array of payment methods, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will deserve a spot on our list. It must also offer low fees and almost-instant transaction times.

Customer Support

If you’re a rookie to online poker and online gambling in general, it’s only natural that you’re going to have some questions. And who can better answer these questions than a resourceful customer support team?

There are four main ways poker sites answer these questions — via email, live chat, telephone, and FAQ. The more contact options the poker site has the better, and more likely it will make it to our list.

Is It Safe to Play Online Poker in Sydney?

The importance of cybersecurity in today’s day and age is paramount, considering the amount of private information we store within our devices and share with other sites. Cyber predators are lurking around every corner, which is why we take security very seriously.

Our top poker sites enforce the use of the latest-generation SSL encryption and cutting-edge firewalls to protect players’ financial and personal information at all times. These are the most effective weapons against hacker attacks, and knowing that poker sites use these security measures gives us reassurance that our readers will be well taken for.

Final Thoughts

With no legal barriers standing in your way, you should have a lot of choices to play poker while in Sydney. The city boasts several exceptional poker rooms, but you can just as easily take your poker action online.

That said, we won’t act as if the poker sites from our page are the only choices out there, but they sure are among the most trustworthy ones. At the end of the day, you call all the shots — we’re just here to lend a helping hand.

If there is anything unclear regarding this page, let me know in the comment section below.

FAQs

Is online poker legal for residents of Sydney?

As long as you stick to the offshore-based poker sites, you can play without worrying that you’ll get into legal problems.

How will I be able to withdraw my winnings?

Financial institutions offered by poker sites facilitate millions of payments throughout the globe every year. These are the same payment methods you use for paying other stuff online, so you can also use them for poker withdrawals.

What poker variations are offered at these sites?

Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the usual suspects, but you can also find a few unique variants like Telesina — the Italian version of the five-card draw.

Are there any bonuses available for Australians?

Absolutely! Every poker site from our list offers an all-inclusive package of bonuses and promotions, all of which are available for everyone, including Australians. You may even find bonuses that are exclusive for Aussies, though these are not very common.

What is the minimum gambling age in Australia?

The legal minimum age to gamble in Australia is 18. This is the case for both offline and online venues.

  Contact Me

Hi, I am the Chief Editor of top10pokersites.net, this site is dedicated to all thing poker. I have been working around the poker industry for the last 15 years, with different brands. The main purpose of this site is to keep you uptodate with the industry and offer you the best deals around.