Crown Casino operates two of Australia's most prestigious poker rooms in Melbourne and Perth, offering world-class tournaments including the legendary Aussie Millions Poker Championship, daily cash games, and a vibrant poker community with over 2,000 active members.
Crown Casino has established itself as the epicenter of Australian poker, operating premium poker rooms in both Melbourne and Perth. Since introducing poker in June 1997, Crown has grown from hosting small local tournaments to becoming home to the Aussie Millions, the Southern Hemisphere's richest poker tournament. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the game, Crown's poker facilities offer comprehensive options for every skill level and bankroll.
The poker landscape at Crown encompasses daily cash games, weekly tournaments, and internationally recognized championship events. Crown Melbourne serves as the flagship location, hosting the prestigious Aussie Millions Poker Championship, while Crown Perth provides a robust poker offering tailored to Western Australian players. Both venues maintain professional standards with experienced dealers, structured game formats, and integrated rewards programs that enhance the player experience.
Understanding the full scope of poker at Crown requires examining the cash game structures, tournament schedules, buy-in requirements, rake systems, and the unique characteristics that distinguish Crown as Australia's premier poker destination. This guide provides detailed insights into every aspect of playing poker at Crown, from your first visit to competing in major championship events.
Crown Melbourne operates one of the most diverse cash game spreads in the Asia-Pacific region, with games running continuously during the poker room's operating hours of 12pm to 4am daily. The cash game selection is designed to serve players across the entire spectrum of stakes and game preferences.
The No Limit Hold'em offerings at Crown Melbourne range from micro-stakes to high-stakes action. The entry-level $1/$3 blinds game features an optional $6 straddle with buy-ins from $100 to $200. This game includes a unique rake structure where pots $40 and under are raked $5, pots $41-$80 are raked $10, pots $81-$120 are raked $15, and pots $121 or above are raked $20. Players have 10 seconds to act, making this a speed poker format.
The $2/$5 blinds turbo game offers an optional $10 straddle with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $500, featuring a 10% rake capped at $25 and 20 seconds to act. Mid-stakes players gravitate toward the $5/$5 and $5/$10 games, with buy-ins of $300-$1,200 and $1,000-$3,000 respectively. Both games maintain the standard 10% rake capped at $25.
High-stakes action occurs at the $10/$20, $25/$50, and $50/$100 blind levels. The $10/$20 game requires a minimum buy-in of $2,000 with a maximum of $5,000, while the $25/$50 and $50/$100 games both require a $4,000 minimum buy-in with no maximum. These higher-stakes games feature red chip rake structures, maintaining the 10% rake capped at $25.
Pot Limit Omaha enthusiasts find substantial action at Crown Melbourne across multiple stake levels. The game structures mirror the No Limit Hold'em offerings, starting at $5/$5 blinds with buy-ins from $300 to $1,000, progressing through $5/$10, $10/$20, $25/$50, and $50/$100 blind levels. All PLO games maintain the 10% rake capped at $25 for red chip games.
Crown Melbourne distinguishes itself by offering a robust selection of specialty poker variants. Limit Omaha games run at $10/$20 and $20/$40 structures with $5/$10 and $10/$20 blinds respectively. The $10/$20 structure features a 10% rake capped at $25, while the $20/$40 structure has a 5% rake capped at $25.
Limit Omaha Hi/Lo runs with a $10/$20 structure and $5/$10 blinds, requiring buy-ins from $100 to $1,000 with a 10% rake capped at $25. Mixed game enthusiasts can find Limit Hold'em/Omaha with a $20/$40 structure, NLHE/PLO Orbits at $2/$5 blinds, and H.O.R.S.E with a limit mixed game structure featuring $5/$10 blinds and a $10 ante.
Manila variants include Two Card Manila and Three Card Manila, both running with $10/$10/$10/$10/$20 structures and a $5 blind. Buy-ins range from $200 to $1,000 with a 5% rake capped at $25. These games provide variety for players seeking alternatives to standard Hold'em and Omaha formats.
Crown Perth operates a more streamlined poker offering compared to Melbourne, focusing on core games with operating hours of 6pm to 4am Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 4am Friday through Sunday. The Perth poker room emphasizes player rewards integration and community-driven game selection.
A distinctive feature of Crown Perth poker is the Crown Rewards Points system. Players earn 50 Crown Rewards Points for every hour of poker play by providing their Crown Rewards Membership Card before commencing their session. This integration creates additional value for regular players and connects poker activity with broader Crown Perth benefits including dining, entertainment, and hotel accommodations.
Crown Perth's live cash games are determined by player demand, creating a flexible and responsive gaming environment. The primary offerings include Ultimate Texas Hold'em and Crown Hold'em Poker, with additional games spread based on player interest and availability. This demand-driven model ensures that games run when sufficient player interest exists, optimizing the experience for both recreational and regular players.
Crown Melbourne's poker room operates Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 4am, offering an extensive range of No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha cash games alongside specialty variants. The room features professional dealers, structured rake systems, and buy-in ranges designed to accommodate players from recreational to high-stakes professionals.
Crown Perth's poker room runs Monday to Thursday from 6pm to 4am and Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 4am. Players can earn 50 Crown Rewards Points every hour when playing poker by providing their Crown Rewards Membership Card before commencing play. Live cash games are determined by player demand, creating a dynamic and responsive gaming environment.
Crown Melbourne hosts weekly poker tournaments every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:15pm, providing consistent tournament action for the local poker community. Each tournament day features distinct structures and formats designed to appeal to different player preferences.
The Monday tournament serves as the Aussie Millions Satellite Gateway, offering players an affordable path to securing seats in the prestigious Aussie Millions Poker Championship Main Event. Starting from August 18 annually, these satellites become the primary route for players seeking to qualify for the $10,600 Main Event through smaller buy-in tournaments. Tournament results are published regularly, maintaining transparency and allowing players to track their progress and the competition landscape.
Wednesday tournaments provide mid-week poker action with structures designed to accommodate players who want competitive tournament poker without the extended time commitment of major events. These tournaments maintain consistent blind structures and payout schedules, creating a reliable weekly option for tournament players.
The Friday Freezeout represents the week's premier weekly tournament, featuring a freezeout format where players cannot re-enter once eliminated. This structure creates a more traditional tournament experience and often attracts the most competitive field of the weekly offerings. The freezeout format rewards disciplined play and strategic patience, distinguishing it from the re-entry formats common in modern tournament poker.
The Aussie Millions Poker Championship stands as Crown Melbourne's flagship poker event and the Southern Hemisphere's most prestigious poker series. Scheduled to return April 24 to May 10, 2026, the championship features 18 days of poker action with 18 tournaments and an estimated prize pool of AU$14 million.
The 2026 Aussie Millions offers buy-ins ranging from AU$1,500 to AU$25,000, with the centerpiece AU$10,600 Main Event attracting the largest field and prize pool. This range ensures accessibility for players across different bankroll levels while maintaining the prestige associated with significant buy-in amounts. The tournament structures are published in advance, allowing players to plan their schedules and bankroll management strategies.
Crown operates an extensive satellite system running from September 1 through April 23, providing multiple pathways to Aussie Millions seats. Satellites begin at just $85, creating opportunities for players with modest bankrolls to compete for Main Event seats valued at $10,600. The satellite calendar is divided into two periods: September 1 to December 30, 2025, and January 1 to April 23, 2026, each with distinct tournament structures and schedules.
Players can register for Aussie Millions events directly in the Poker Room on Level 1 of the Casino or through satellite qualification. The satellite system creates a vibrant lead-up period to the championship, with regular opportunities to qualify and building anticipation throughout the poker community.
The Aussie Millions began in July 1998 as a $1,000 buy-in Limit Hold'em tournament attracting 74 entries with a $74,000 prize pool. The event moved to January in 2001 with a $5,000 buy-in attracting 40 entrants for a $200,000 prize pool. January 2003 marked the event's international expansion, drawing 122 entrants and a $1,200,000 prize pool.
By January 2005, the Aussie Millions had grown to 263 participants paying $10,000 each for the No Limit Hold'em Main Event, generating a $2,630,000 prize pool—the largest in Southern Hemisphere history at that time. This growth trajectory established the Aussie Millions as a must-attend event on the international poker calendar, attracting players from across the globe and cementing Crown Melbourne's position as a world-class poker destination.
Crown implements comprehensive responsible gaming measures through the Crown PlaySafe program, ensuring that poker and all gaming activities occur within a safe, regulated environment. The program focuses on minimizing potential harm associated with gaming and empowering players to make informed decisions about their participation.
Players can set personal limits and play within predetermined boundaries through Crown PlaySafe tools. The program includes self-assessment resources that help players evaluate their thoughts about gaming and their behavior, fostering understanding of their relationship with gaming activities. The Crown PlaySafe Centre is accessible at 1800 801 098, providing direct support for players seeking assistance.
External support is available through Gambler's Help at 1800 858 858 and gamblershelp.org.au, ensuring players have access to professional resources beyond Crown's internal programs. This multi-layered approach to responsible gaming reflects Crown's commitment to player welfare and sustainable gaming practices.
Crown Casino maintains a neat casual dress standard with footwear required at all times. Acceptable attire includes neat casual clothing, branded sports shirts, scarves, and AFL guernseys worn over shirts with sleeves. Visible tattoos that are not offensive in nature are acceptable at Crown's discretion.
Unacceptable attire includes untidy, torn, or soiled clothing, immodest or revealing clothing, offensive designs or wording, work singlets and gym tank tops, running shorts, gym activewear, untidy tracksuits, manual work clothing, sleepwear, swimwear, beach clothing, inappropriate footwear including rubber thongs and Ugg boots, and headgear covering the face. Crown reserves the right to refuse entry or service to guests not meeting dress standards.
As of January 12, 2024, casino chips are accepted for purchases at specific outlets within Crown Perth including Crown Sports Bar, Groove Bar & Lounge, Mesh Bar, Fusion Bar, Riverside Room Bar, and Baccarat Room Bar. Casino chips are also accepted when ordering beverages at gaming tables or gaming machines, with a $100 limit per transaction applying to chip purchases.
Crown maintains an active poker community with over 2,000 members, providing regular updates, tournament information, and engagement opportunities. Players can join the community to stay connected with Crown poker activities, receive notifications about upcoming events, and communicate directly with the poker team at [email protected].
Poker at Crown represents the pinnacle of Australian poker, combining world-class facilities, diverse game offerings, prestigious tournament series, and a commitment to responsible gaming. Whether playing daily cash games at accessible stakes, competing in weekly tournaments, or pursuing glory at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Crown provides a comprehensive poker ecosystem that serves players at every level. The combination of professional operations, transparent structures, integrated rewards, and community engagement establishes Crown as the definitive destination for poker in Australia and a significant presence on the international poker stage.
Crown Melbourne's poker room operates Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 4am, providing 16 hours of daily poker action with cash games and tournaments available throughout operating hours.
Cash game buy-ins at Crown Melbourne start at $100 for the $1/$3 No Limit Hold'em game and range up to $4,000 minimum for high-stakes games. Crown Perth offers similar ranges with games determined by player demand.
Yes, Crown runs an extensive satellite program from September through April with satellites starting at just $85, offering multiple pathways to win Main Event seats valued at $10,600.
Most cash games at Crown feature a 10% rake capped at $25. The $1/$3 game has a tiered rake structure, while higher-stakes red chip games maintain the standard 10% rake with a $25 cap.
Yes, Crown Perth players earn 50 Crown Rewards Points per hour by providing their Crown Rewards Membership Card before play. These points can be used across Crown facilities for dining, entertainment, and accommodations.
Crown Melbourne offers Pot Limit Omaha, Limit Omaha, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, Two Card Manila, Three Card Manila, H.O.R.S.E, and NLHE/PLO Orbits, providing extensive variety beyond standard No Limit Hold'em.
The Aussie Millions Poker Championship returns to Crown Melbourne from April 24 to May 10, 2026, featuring 18 tournaments over 18 days with an estimated AU$14 million prize pool.
Crown offers the Crown PlaySafe program with limit-setting tools, self-assessment resources, and access to support services including the Crown PlaySafe Centre at 1800 801 098 and Gambler's Help at 1800 858 858.
Crown Casino collaborates with leading poker organizations and gaming providers to deliver world-class poker experiences.
The AU$10,600 Main Event represents the pinnacle of Southern Hemisphere poker, attracting international professionals and ambitious amateurs to compete for millions in prize money and prestigious recognition.
Crown Melbourne's weekly tournaments every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday provide consistent competitive poker with structured formats, published results, and pathways to major championship qualification.
Crown Melbourne announces complete tournament schedule for April 24 to May 10, 2026 championship with 18 events and AU$14 million estimated prize pool.
The 2026 Aussie Millions satellite program launches with tournaments starting at $85, running through April 23, 2026 with multiple weekly qualification opportunities.
Crown Perth poker players now earn 50 Crown Rewards Points per hour with expanded chip payment options at casino bars and dining venues.