Is Online Poker Legal in Australia? (2026 Guide)

Edward Pao

4 weeks ago

I’m pretty sure that everyone wants to know whether online poker is legal in Australia, especially if you are an Aussie. The good news is that there is an offshore option that is what I personally use.

Quick Answer: Ignition Is Still One of the Best Options for Australian Players

Ignition accepts Aussie poker players and offers anonymous tables, crypto deposit options, mobile play, and current poker bonuses.

Play on Ignition Poker

If your main goal is playing online poker in Australia, I recommend Ignition.

Better overall poker experience
Accepts Australian Players
Softer games for recreational players
Poker-focused promotions

Is Online Poker Legal in Australia?

So, there are no actual online poker rooms operating within Australia at the moment. This is due to laws around online poker making it inaccessible. The only option is to use something offshore. The good news is that there is one option that has basically taken over for Aussies, and it’s the room I use the most frequently. Ignition Poker has become the top destination for Aussie players and it’s one of the highest traffic sites specifically for this market. Ignition is an offshore gaming site that’s been operating since 2016. In that time, it’s become one of the largest poker sites in the world. More on them shortly.

Understanding Australia’s Online Poker Laws

Australia’s online gambling laws are governed by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). While many people believe online poker is illegal, the law primarily targets gambling operators rather than individual players. Under the IGA, companies are generally prohibited from offering online poker services to Australians without proper authorization. Following legislative changes in 2017, several major poker operators stopped accepting Australian players to comply with the law. Importantly, the legislation does not specifically make it illegal for Australians to play online poker. Instead, regulators focus on operators that provide gambling services to Australian residents. This has created a legal grey area where many Australians continue to play on offshore poker sites that accept customers from Australia. As a result, offshore poker rooms remain popular among Australian players. Many of these sites also support cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin and USDT, offering faster deposits and withdrawals than some traditional banking methods.

Top Offshore Option for Australian Players

Ignition Poker is at the top of my list because I use this site on a weekly basis. I regularly login and play a few tables of 200nl or 500nl. The competition here is very soft at most stakes, but what sort of made it one of my go to’s is that I really enjoy using the software. It runs smoothly on both mobile and desktop, but I still prefer playing on an actual laptop for longer, more focused sessions. I’ve often found I win a lot more consistently playing when I’m focused and that’s harder to do playing on your phone. However, if you do use your phone just be sure to keep it at one table. It can get hard to pay attention to the little details happening when you are scrolling between tables on a small screen. You’ll have to trust me in this one. Ha.

Is It Safe?

Yes, it is. I wouldn’t even recommend it to you as an option if I thought otherwise. Other than the software, traffic, and game selection being solid, Ignition also provides fast cash out options. I’ve managed to have some big wins on this network of a few thousand plus playing less than 30,000 hands in a month. I’ve attached some payment proof so you can see I’m serious. When I do cash out it mainly via cryptocurrency which is what the site pushes players to use anyways. I have no problem with it since it’s fast and often takes less than 10 minutes to receive payment. I also mainly use Bitcoin or USDT. USDT has way cheaper fees because it’s a stable coin, but you are limited to $2500 a week with that method. Bitcoin comes with a much higher limit at around $90k per week.

Risks of Using Offshore Sites

I do want to mention there are some risks involved with using offshore gaming sites. Mainly you don’t have the same protection as a site operating within your country. However, since Australia really has nothing to offer residents that’s not even an option. I really don’t think it makes a difference if we have sites like Ignition available for us to use. Offshore sites get a bad reputation because they are labeled a certain way. However, in my opinion there are no risks involved in this one, as Ignition is a reputable poker site that’s been operating since 2016. If it wasn’t on the up and up no one would even be playing here. I also think not enough people in Australia know just how good this site is.

Final Thoughts

Having used Ignition Poker for many years has become one of the best places to use for long term grinders. You often see a lot of recreational players using this site which means the competition is soft at most stakes. You can also multi table up to 4 tables and put in a good amount of volume during peak playing times which I’ve found to be between 6pm and midnight during the week. The weekend is wide open as well. Then of course you can partake in some of the bigger guaranteed tournaments on the weekends like the 200k and other specialty options that run throughout the year. Bottom line is that even with online poker not being legal for Australian players, the offshore market has really become the go to option. And personally, I see nothing wrong with that at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is online poker legal in Australia? Australia’s online gambling laws mainly target gambling operators rather than individual players. While many online poker operators cannot legally offer services to Australians, players themselves are generally not prohibited from accessing offshore poker sites. Can Australians play on offshore poker sites? Many Australians continue to play on offshore poker sites that accept Australian customers. These sites operate outside Australia and are not regulated by Australian authorities. However the one I recommended in this update is the preferred choice for Aussies right now. It’s reputable and has a strong brand. It also provides lots of player traffic, cash games, and big multi table tournaments. Can I deposit and withdraw using cryptocurrency? Many offshore poker sites accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, USDT, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Crypto payments are popular because they often provide quicker deposits and withdrawals than traditional banking methods. I personally use both Bitcoin and USDT. If you want the lowest fees possible when cashing out I think USDT is the best option because it is a stable coin, meaning it doesn’t fluctuate in price much. Are online poker winnings taxable in Australia? For most recreational players, gambling winnings are generally not taxed in Australia. However, tax laws can be complex, and professional players may be treated differently depending on their circumstances. What is the safest way to play online poker in Australia? Players should choose reputable poker sites with a strong track record, secure payment methods, reliable customer support, and responsible gaming tools. Researching a site’s reputation before depositing funds is always recommended.

Edward Pao

Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.