Best Poker Sites for Australian Players
Widest selection of video poker and live casino poker variants
Play PokerHigh-limit live poker tables with VIP host support
Play PokerDeepest video poker library from multiple providers
Play PokerTypes of Online Poker Available in Australia
It's important to understand that traditional player-vs-player online poker (like PokerStars ring games or tournaments) operates differently from the poker games available at online casinos. Australian casino sites offer house-banked poker games where you play against the casino, not other players. Here's what's available.
Video Poker
Video poker is a solo game based on five-card draw poker. You receive five cards, choose which to hold, and the discards are replaced. Your final hand is paid according to a fixed paytable. Unlike slots, your decisions directly affect the outcome, making video poker one of the few casino games where skill genuinely matters. With optimal strategy, the best video poker variants offer RTPs above 99%, making them the highest-returning casino games available.
Live Casino Hold'em
A live dealer game based on Texas Hold'em where you play against the dealer, not other players. You and the dealer each receive two hole cards, and five community cards are dealt. You must decide to call or fold after seeing the flop. If your final five-card hand beats the dealer's, you win. The house edge is approximately 2.16% with optimal strategy.
Three Card Poker (Live)
A simplified poker variant where both you and the dealer receive three cards. You decide to play or fold after seeing your hand. If you play and beat the dealer, you win. There's also a Pair Plus side bet that pays based solely on your hand strength regardless of the dealer. The house edge is approximately 3.37% on the ante bet with optimal strategy.
Caribbean Stud Poker (Live)
A five-card poker game against the dealer. You ante, receive five cards face down, and the dealer shows one card. You then decide to raise (2x ante) or fold. The dealer must have Ace-King or better to qualify. If the dealer doesn't qualify, you win even money on the ante and the raise is returned. House edge: approximately 5.22%.
Video Poker Variants & Pay Tables
The RTP of video poker depends entirely on the paytable offered. The same game name can have dramatically different returns depending on the casino's paytable configuration. Always check the paytable before playing.
Jacks or Better
The foundation video poker game. Wins start at a pair of Jacks. The "full-pay" version (9/6, meaning 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush per coin bet) returns 99.54% with optimal strategy. This is one of the best returns in any casino game. Lower-pay versions (8/5 or 7/5) reduce the RTP significantly — always check the full house and flush payouts first.
Deuces Wild
All 2s (deuces) are wild cards, substituting for any other card. The full-pay version theoretically returns 100.76% with perfect strategy — a positive-expectation game. However, "perfect" strategy requires memorising hundreds of decision points, making it impractical for most players. Realistic returns with "near-perfect" strategy are around 99.5%.
Bonus Poker
Based on Jacks or Better but with enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. Four Aces pay 80 coins (vs 25 in Jacks or Better). The trade-off is slightly lower payouts for full houses and flushes. Full-pay Bonus Poker returns approximately 99.17%.
Double Bonus Poker
Even higher four-of-a-kind payouts than Bonus Poker. Four Aces pay 160 coins. The trade-off: two pair pays only 1:1 instead of 2:1, which significantly increases volatility. Full-pay returns approximately 100.17% with perfect strategy, but the variance is substantially higher.
| Variant | Full-Pay RTP | House Edge | Volatility | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better (9/6) | 99.54% | 0.46% | Low | Beginners |
| Deuces Wild (Full-Pay) | 100.76% | -0.76% | Medium | Expert players |
| Bonus Poker | 99.17% | 0.83% | Medium | Intermediate |
| Double Bonus Poker | 100.17% | -0.17% | High | Advanced |
| Joker Poker | 98.60% | 1.40% | Medium | Recreational |
💡 Video Poker Strategy Tip
The single most impactful tip for video poker: always check the paytable. A "9/6" Jacks or Better machine (9 for full house, 6 for flush) returns 99.54%. An "8/5" version returns only 97.30%. That 2.24% difference makes a massive impact over hundreds of hands. Walk away from bad paytables.
Video Poker Strategy Guide
Unlike pokies where outcomes are entirely random, video poker involves genuine skill. The cards you choose to hold directly affect your expected return. Here are the key strategy principles for Jacks or Better, the most common variant.
🃏 Jacks or Better Hold Strategy (Simplified)
- Always hold: Royal flush, straight flush, four-of-a-kind, full house, flush, straight, three-of-a-kind
- Hold two pair (even though the payout is only 2:1, the expected value of drawing is lower)
- Hold a high pair (Jacks or better) over a four-card flush or straight draw
- Hold a four-card flush over a low pair or three-card straight
- Hold a low pair over a four-card straight (open-ended)
- Hold four-card straight (open-ended) over three-card royal flush
- Hold high cards (Jack or better) when dealt garbage — never discard all five cards
- Never break a winning hand to chase a royal flush (except: break a flush to draw one card to a royal)
⚠ Poker & Bonus Wagering
Video poker and live poker variants typically count 5-20% toward bonus wagering requirements. Due to the high RTP of video poker, some casinos exclude it entirely from bonus play. Always verify the bonus terms before attempting to clear wagering with poker games.
Poker Casino Comparison
| Casino | Video Poker | Live Poker | Bonus | Wagering | PayID Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyCrown | Yes (10+ variants) | Yes | A$4,000 + 400 FS | 40x | 11 min |
| MadCasino | Yes | Yes | A$1,500 + 300 FS | 35x | Under 2hr |
| Aphrodite | Yes | Yes (VIP) | A$7,000 + Cashback | 40x | Under 4hr |
| Wino | Yes (15+ variants) | Yes | A$10,000 | 40x | Under 4hr |
| Donbet | Yes | Yes | A$750 + 50 FS | 25x | Under 24hr |
| Ricky Casino | Yes | Yes | A$7,500 + 550 FS | 40x | Under 3hr |
Online Poker Australia — FAQ
Yes. While the IGA restricts player-vs-player poker rooms, Australian players can access video poker and live casino poker variants (Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker) at offshore licensed casinos.
Jacks or Better (9/6 paytable) returns 99.54% with optimal strategy. Deuces Wild (full-pay) returns 100.76% with perfect play. Always check the paytable before playing.
Video poker is solo play against a machine using RNG. Live poker at casinos is dealer-hosted where you play against the house, not other players.
Yes. Your hold/discard decisions directly affect returns. With perfect strategy, Jacks or Better returns 99.54% vs roughly 95-96% playing by instinct.
SkyCrown offers the widest video poker and live poker selection with 11-minute PayID payouts. Donbet offers the lowest wagering at 25x for bonus value.
Affiliate Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you register through our links. This does not influence our rankings.
Legal Notice: Online gambling in Australia is regulated under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. You must be 18+ to gamble.