Aussie Millions: Tour History & Complete Guide | SoMuchPoker

At a Glance

• Founded: 1998
• Region: Australia
• Currency: AUD (Australian Dollar)
• Venues: Crown Melbourne

History and Significance

The journey of the Aussie Millions began in 1998 as a local tournament with just 74 entries. It gained international fame in 2003 when the Main Event buy-in was set at 10,000 AUD, producing the first million-dollar top prize.

The festival is a pioneer of the “High Roller” era. In 2006, it hosted the world’s first 100,000 AUD buy-in event, followed by the groundbreaking 250,000 AUD Challenge in 2011. Iconic champions like Gus Hansen (2007), Ami Barer (2014), and Bryn Kenney (2019) have cemented the tour’s status as a premier stop on the global circuit. After a hiatus since 2020, the festival is set for a highly anticipated return in 2026 under the leadership of veteran tournament director Danny McDonagh .

Event Variety and Structure

The Aussie Millions traditionally dominated the January poker calendar, but the 2026 relaunch sees the festival move to a late-autumn slot in Australia.

Flagship Events: The centerpiece is the 10,600 AUD Main Event. Other key highlights include the Opening Event, which historically features multiple starting flights and a massive guarantee, and the high-stakes Challenge events (25k, 50k, and 100k AUD).

Player Field: The field is a unique blend of local Australian recreational players and the “who’s who” of international poker. The atmosphere at Crown Melbourne is widely considered one of the best in the world for live poker.

Game Mix: Beyond No Limit Hold’em, the schedule typically includes Pot Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., and various Mixed Game formats to cater to all specialties.

Online Qualification and Partners

Due to strict regulations under the Australian Interactive Gambling Act, legal online.

However, players can qualify via:

• Live Satellites: Crown Melbourne hosts extensive “Phase Satellites” starting from as low as 250 AUD in the months leading up to the series.
• International Partners: For players outside of Australia, platforms like GGPoker or Natural8 have historically been associated with regional qualifiers for major Oceania events.