One of the world’s most iconic poker tournaments is back.
The Aussie Millions will return to Crown Melbourne from 24 April to 10 May, 2026, ending a six-year hiatus.
The 2026 edition will feature 18 tournaments and an estimated AUD$14,000,000 (approx. US$9,000,000) in prize pools, with buy-ins ranging from AUD$1,500 (US$970) to AUD$25,000 (US$16,000). Headlining the schedule is the prestigious AUD$10,600 (US$6,900) Main Event, a tournament that has long attracted the biggest names in the game and crowned some of poker’s most respected champions.
"We are thrilled to be welcoming Aussie Millions back to Crown Melbourne after six years," said Crown Melbourne CEO Ed Domingo. "The return of Aussie Millions is not just a celebration of poker, it’s a celebration of Crown and the world-class experiences we offer our guests."
The History of the Aussie Millions
First held in 1998, the Aussie Millions began as a modest event with just 74 players and a prize pool of AUD$74,000. But by the mid-2000s, it had transformed into one of the most prestigious stops on the international poker calendar. The appeal was clear. The event offered players January sun in an exotic and luxurious destination, while the poker offered a healthy field of satellite qualifiers and Australian casual poker players.
During its "glory days" in the 2000s and 2010s, the Main Event routinely attracted 700 to 800 entrants, drawing legends of the game to Melbourne each January.
Gus Hansen's historic victory in 2007 saw him document every hand, which he then turned into the now legendary book 'Every Hand Revealed'. Others such as Bryn Kenney, Ari Engel and Toby Lewis have all won the southern hemisphere's most prestigious poker tournament.
The festival also became synonymous with high roller action, with Phil Ivey dominating the $250,000 Challenge in the early 2010s, winning three titles in five years.
The Aussie Millions festival became a favourite among top professionals for its structure, hospitality, and setting. It became an annual pilgrimage for players seeking a mix of poker and world-class leisure. Many will welcome its long-awaited return and start planning their trips.
American investment giant Blackstone Group, owners of The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, completed an AU$8.9 billion takeover in late June 2022. Two months later, a raft of strict gambling laws were imposed on Crown Melbourne in the wake of The Bergin Inquiry. This investigation revealed serious problems at Crown Casino properties, including "money laundering, links to organised crime, and poor governance practices" at its Crown Casino Sydney property.
The following year, it was revealed that Crown Casino Melbourne was no longer running poker tournaments, meaning a return of a major international poker festival like the Aussie Millions was highly unlikely. However, tournament poker did return in the Spring of 2024 and rumours began to swirl late last year of a possible return as early as 2025.
Now, the Aussie Millions is poised to reclaim its place in poker’s top tier.
Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.
He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.
