Veteran poker executive Danny McDonagh will return to a familiar role in 2026 after being confirmed as tournament director for the relaunch of the Aussie Millions, stepping back into the series he helped build into a global poker powerhouse.
Widely regarded as one of the most experienced tournament directors in the Asia-Pacific region, McDonagh was a key figure in the early rise of the Aussie Millions. And as the festival prepares for its first full edition in more than six years, the Crown Melbourne Casino has leaned on a trusted hand to help guide the festival into its next era.
“It’s both fitting and exciting to welcome Danny McDonagh back to Aussie Millions,” said Harold Charalampos Tsakmaklis, EGM Gaming at Crown Melbourne.
“Danny played a pivotal role in the event’s first six years, introducing it to the world and helping shape it into the iconic tournament it became. Now, in a new chapter and a new role, we’re privileged to have Danny leading the re-introduction of Aussie Millions and taking it to the next level.”
McDonagh spoke exclusively to PokerNews, and told us about his fond memories of the early explosion in Main Event player numbers from 2004 to 2007.
"It went up from 133 to 263, then to 418 and to 747 — all down to the fact that local players had the chance to compete against the cream of professional poker players, all thanks to the three-phrase satellite program," said McDonagh. "The satellite program continues to be very popular today at Crown."
He also spoke of the spectators who were able to come and rail the action.
"It made the event a real buzz! Some are railing a close friend or relative, while others are coming specially to see some of the biggest names in poker in action. Local players were very welcoming of international players. This, combined with Melbourne city and the fabulous Crown complex, helped make the Aussie Millions a must-visit stop for so many players.
"Personally it's very exciting to be coming to my hometown Melbourne as Head TD for the Aussie Millions."
History of the Aussie Millions
First held in 1998 with just 74 entries, the Aussie Millions steadily grew into a bucket-list stop for poker’s elite. The list of Main Event champions includes some of the game’s most respected names, with Gus Hansen’s famous 2007 victory remaining one of the most talked-about moments in the event’s history after being documented hand-for-hand in Every Hand Revealed.
Gus Hansen
The festival also became synonymous with high-stakes poker following the introduction of the AU$250,000 Challenge in 2011. That event helped cement the Aussie Millions’ reputation as a destination for the world’s best, producing iconic wins for players such as Erik Seidel and Phil Ivey.
The most recent Main Event, held in 2020, saw Vincent Wan capture the title for AU$1.318 million, just weeks before the global shutdown of live poker.
For the upcoming edition, which will run from April 24 to May 10, 2026, at Crown Melbourne, the festival will feature 18 tournaments across 18 days, with an estimated AU$14 million (approximately US$9.1 million) in prize pools.
Buy-ins will range from AU$1,500 to AU$25,000, with the prestigious AU$10,600 Main Event once again headlining the schedule.
PokerNews will be on site in Melbourne as the official live reporting partner for the 2026 Aussie Millions, delivering live updates, chip counts, photos, videos, and feature content throughout the festival.
Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game.
Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
