Shining History Under the Australian Sun
The story of the Aussie Millions began in 1998 as a modest event with just 74 players and a total prize pool of 74,000 AUD. Entering the new millennium, its popularity surged, becoming one of the most prestigious stops on the international poker tour. The Main Event regularly attracted between 700 and 800 players, significantly boosted by stars like Gus Hansen, Bryn Kenney, Ari Engel, and Toby Lewis.
The Aussie Millions festival gained fame not only through its popular Main Events (with a standard buy-in of 10,600 AUD) but also through extreme high roller tournaments with buy-ins up to 250,000 AUD. These high-stakes tournaments drew attention, especially when the legendary Phil Ivey claimed three titles there between 2012 and 2016.
The End of an Era
The last edition of this series took place in early 2020, unaware that it would be the final one for many years. The world was hit by a pandemic, followed by internal issues at Crown Resorts, investigations into money laundering, links with organized crime, and strict regulatory interventions in Australia.
The situation peaked in 2022 when Crown Melbourne temporarily ceased hosting poker tournaments. A glimmer of hope appeared in 2023 as smaller tournaments returned to Crown, laying the groundwork for a potential comeback of Aussie Millions. Fans demanded its return, professionals reminisced about the golden days, but the years continued to pass.
Magnificent Comeback
Just days ago, Ed Domingo, the new CEO of Crown Melbourne, confirmed the return of the Aussie Millions after a six-year break, announcing the dates: from April 24 to May 10, 2026. "We are thrilled to welcome the Aussie Millions back after six years – it’s not just a celebration of poker but also of the global experiences we offer our guests," Domingo exclaimed enthusiastically.
Veterans may recall that the Aussie Millions traditionally took place in January, kicking off the poker calendar. Its move to April aims to avoid clashes with other prestigious series. During the mentioned period, players can expect 18 tournaments with buy-ins ranging from 500 AUD (around 970 USD) to high roller events with buy-ins of 25,000 AUD (around 16,000 USD). The Main Event will retain its buy-in of 10,600 AUD, approximately 6,900 USD.
The detailed tournament schedule, timetable, and preliminary registration for interested players will be available in the coming months on crownmelbourne.com.au. However, it is already clear that the poker world has much to look forward to, with many poker elites planning to make the journey 'Down Under'.
Sources – Crownmelbourne, X, PokerNews
