Wollongong (NSW) Online Poker – Top Poker Rooms in 2023

Wollongong, informally referred to as 'The Gong', is a part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Wollongong is strategically positioned on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, about 68 kilometers (42 miles) south of the Sydney CBD. The Aboriginal word ' Wollongong' used for the name of this city is pretty ambiguous and some of the possible translations include 'seas of the South', ' great feast of fish', 'song of the sea', or 'five islands'.

Famous Crown Street created almost two centuries ago, is the main street in the city. It follows a ridge from Mount Keira to the first farmhouse in the area, and fairly quickly, it became the key artery of the fledgling town. Being a coastal city, it tends to attract its fair share of tourists nowadays, and it is the third-largest city in the state following Sydney and Newcastle. Like many other areas in NSW, Wollongong is also a central hub for gambling fans, although it may not be visible at first. However, poker players do reside across the city and of course, there is a market for it. On top of that, various online poker sites exist to provide gambling services to Wollongong's players.

The Top Online Poker Rooms Available in Wollongong

The city is well-known for excellent poker players. The local poker player Branko Usljebrka won the APL Million tournament in March 2017, after beating a field of 1164 players. The first prize of $265,000 was the biggest paid to date at the Star Poker Festival in Sydney. The second Wollongong poker player who won the prestigious APL Million tournament at the Star Poker Festival in Sydney was Sam Dessaix-Porter. In March 2018, after beating as many as 1041 players he took $247,500 in cash and an $8000 Jackstar APL WSOP Monster Stack Package.

All the excitement and action in the land-based casinos notwithstanding, Wollongong players are also very interested and keen to play online poker. Luckily, there are so many attractive online options to choose. Our special collection of the top online poker rooms contains all the important details about their features. We invite you to read the full reviews of each poker room. In such a way, you can dig even deeper into all the juicy details about the benefits of signing up for an account and enjoy poker action. Let's now take a proper look at Wollongong's best online poker rooms.

Ignition Poker

For those players looking for a high level of traffic and competition, Ignition Poker is the way to go. Utilizing the PaiWangLuo Network, this is one online poker room that has a lot to offer to gamers in Wollongong. The games on offer in its lobby cater to a variety of skill levels, meaning that Ignition offers up a fantastic experience to both newcomers and experienced players. Traffic levels often exceed the 2,000 players' level at any given time. This could be in large part due to the excellent selection of tournaments on hand at the platform.

Anyone signing up for an account at the poker room will be able to benefit from a welcome bonus of 150% up to $1,500, as long as crypto is utilized for depositing. Ignition Poker also supports many payment methods for depositing and withdrawing purposes. Alongside its fantastic poker games and tournaments, you will also be able to enjoy a range of casino games should you ever want a break. Players from across the NSW region already enjoy what Ignition Poker has to offer.

If you wish to learn even more about the poker games and promotions on offer here, check out our comprehensive Ignition Poker review.

Americas Cardroom

Choosing to become a player at Americas Cardroom is a decision that shouldn't be difficult to make. At least, not after you find out what you can experience when playing there. Once you register for an account, you can make a deposit and receive a 100% match on top; up to a maximum of $2,000 altogether. Even after this, you will be able to benefit from the site's 27% rakeback reward, which is added to your account every week. Throw in a VIP program and a fantastic range of poker game options, and this forms a strong basis for what Americas Cardroom is providing.

Depositing into an account at this poker room is a simple process, with transactions via credit and debit cards supported alongside cryptocurrency options. Neteller and Skrill are also offered as methods outside of the United States of America. Fortunately, the site supports registrations from around 180 countries worldwide, meaning that you can find yourself playing poker against a variety of nationalities. Americas Cardroom is also accessible through smartphones and tablets, giving you the chance to play poker while on the move.

If you'd like to learn more about the promos and poker on offer at this excellent poker site, feel free to read our Americas Cardroom review.

CoinPoker

CoinPoker is the busiest and largest crypto-only poker site available to Australian players. Poker at CoinPoker is denominated exclusively in Tether (USDT), but you will be able to deposit and withdraw with a few other cryptos, like Ethereum and Bitcoin. Numerous ring games are on offer here across a wide range of stakes. Some of the poker variants offered here include NL Hold'em, 5 Card Omaha, and Open Face Chinese.

The CoinPoker software works with any modern device including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android systems. Weekly and monthly leaderboards can also increase your bankroll on a regular basis. Players who hold a balance of CHP will be able to receive 30% rakeback on all of their poker play.

For additional information regarding this exceptional crypto poker destination, feel free to read our detailed CoinPoker review.

Juicy Stakes

Our final poker site recommendation comes in the shape of the Juicy Stakes website. Established in 2011 and licensed by the government of Curacao, this platform is accessible via desktop computers and mobile devices. What's more, the games on hand are usually quite loose. As is the case with the other sites we have recommended, you can play against players from almost all around the world. Something that significantly stands out about this Wollongong poker room is its 36% rakeback reward.

Concerning the Juicy Stakes poker games, you'll find a variety of No-Limit Texas Hold 'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, and one or two others at the site. And another perk of being a member at this site is that you can receive a free check withdrawal every month if this is your preferred payment method. While the traffic level at this poker site is not as high as it is at the other two mentioned above, Juicy Stakes still offers an entertaining experience. Go ahead and take a look at this online poker room and see if it works for you.

If you wish to learn additional information regarding the poker formats and promotions offered here, check out our thorough Juicy Stakes Poker review.

Quick Facts About Poker in Wollongong

• Population: 307,477
• Legal Age for Gambling: 18
• Gambling Tax: Up to 28.05%
• Number of Land-Based Casinos: 0
• Regulated By: Liquor & Gaming NSW
• Most Popular Casino Games: Pokies, Roulette, Blackjack

Is Online Poker Legal in Wollongong?

To understand how legal online poker is in Wollongong, you need to focus on the New South Wales online poker regulations. This state pretty much serves as Australia's version of Nevada, so it's the gambling capital of the country. NSW was the location for the first legally registered poker machine back in the day. So, you can tell what kind of relationship not only the state has with gambling, but Wollongong itself as well.

Online poker has been through quite the experience in the state of NSW, though. Why? The Interactive Gambling Act was introduced in 2001 and then amended to an even stricter status in 2017. This saw many online casino and poker operators close down their Aussie operations and exit the country's gambling scene altogether. The Act in question has made it illegal for operators to provide online gambling services from within Australia to Aussie residents.

However, this is a law that solely applies to operators of such. Players are not restricted by the laws, and this allows you to visit offshore poker rooms as a resident of Wollongong. A strong range of sites hold offshore licenses from a variety of places. Not all of these can be considered safe and secure, though. And this is why it is ideal to visit and join only one of the recommended online poker rooms at our site.

Wollongong & Land-based Casinos

Should your gaming enthusiasm reach a point of you wanting to try it in reality instead of online, then you will need to find a casino to do this at. Unfortunately, The Gong doesn't have any casinos in the area for you to go to, meaning you will need to travel north to Sydney instead. There, you can find several land-based casinos, but the best one is definitely:

The Star Casino

Residents of NSW have various casinos that they can visit to enjoy live poker options, including cash games and tournaments. Yet, the casino that stands out the most for this activity is The Star, located in Sydney. And as it happens, this casino has become one of the most important venues for poker tournaments across Australia.

• Address: 80 Pyrmont Street
  Pyrmont
  NSW 2009
• Contact Info: 02 9777 9000
• Working Hours: 24/7
• Casino Games: Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Dice Games
• Tournaments: Sydney Champs Tournament
• Official Website: The Star Casino

Is There a Gambling Addiction Problem in Wollongong?

Problem gambling is something that has been documented across Australia over the years. And it was for this reason that the Interactive Gambling Act was amended in 2017. It was hoped that these changes would help curb the increasing number of people being diagnosed with a gambling addiction. And while it may have alleviated the issue slightly, problem gambling is still something that people suffer with throughout the Land Down Under.

As a matter of fact, Wollongong has one of the highest concentrations of pokie machines in NSW. Interestingly enough, it would appear that gambling revenue from poker machines in council-owned facilities could become a hotly contested flashpoint in the lead-up to the December local government poll.

Of course, problem gambling issues are also relevant in Wollongong. This is the case even though the city does not have land-based casinos and gambling establishments. Should you feel that you are succumbing to addiction symptoms, or if someone else that you know is, you can utilize the following organization for assistance:

• GambleAware: Illawarra and Southern NSW

Conclusion

Wollongong is a fascinating place for visitors and tourists to experience. But for residents, it also serves as a great location for participating in online poker. That is why we wanted to make our list of the best locations for engaging in poker gameplay. So take a look at them again and always remember to gamble responsibly. It is completely safe and legal to pick a verified poker online site from Wollongong and enjoy playing online poker, without any fears or hesitations.