The Northern Territory Online Poker– Best Poker Rooms 2023
The Northern Territory occupies regions in both the central and northern locations of Australia and has a population of about 250,000. It is known throughout the world for fishing due to the Million Dollar Fish challenge. The Tourism NT tags 125 barramundi fish, including six lucky fish carrying a $1,000,000 price tag! However, fishing is not the only way to become a millionaire. You can also play online poker and make a lot of money. The small number of residents notwithstanding, online poker is very much alive and kicking in this part of Australia.
Playing Online Poker in the NT, Australia – Top Poker Sites
Online poker is a popular casino game in Australia, and thousands of Aussie poker lovers engage in their favorite pastimes daily! So, it is natural that poker exists as one of the most popular gambling activities in the Northern Territory. However, many people wonder whether online poker is legal within the state's borders and the best places to play it. We are here to help by providing detailed information on all of the best online poker options.
It is true to say that multiple platforms support registrations from Aussie players, but not all of them are safe and secure. Therefore, it is essential to utilize recommended platforms, which have been thoroughly reviewed and verified. We have done this for NT residents, and below you will see our suggestions for the best sites to play online poker for real money.
Ignition Poker
Ignite the poker fire inside you and sign up to the Ignition Poker platform. This site welcomes many players daily, operating as part of the largest poker network - PaiWangLuo. It has built up its reputation ever since it first started running in 2016 and today exists as one of the most reputable operators online. Even though many clients use the Ignition poker service from the United States of America, Aussie players also like to get involved with its games.
A fantastic welcome bonus on hand from the site stands at 100% up to $1,000 (150% up to $1,500 if you use crypto). The bonus is very much claimable by Australians. The web-based poker software works well on mobile devices which also helps make Ignition Poker even more enjoyable. You can access poker games and tournaments whenever you want, even on the go. When you are ready to deposit, you can make use of Bitcoin as well as a few other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum. You can also utilise a number of traditional payment methods, if you prefer.
If you would like to learn more about the poker formats and the bonuses on offer here, check out our Ignition Poker review.
ACR Poker
ACR Poker has been running the longest of the three platforms recommended here, starting up in 2001. It operates as part of the Winning Poker Network, and its dedication to providing unique online poker is second-to-none. High-quality software stands out amongst many of the site's competitors, and this ensures that you have a smooth and entertaining poker session. No-Limit Texas Hold 'em poker takes the lead when it comes to the most popular poker variant at ACR Poker, but you'll also see players vying for spots at Omaha tables.
It's not only Aussie players that are accepted at this site either, but poker fans from the USA and 98% of the countries worldwide. The site supports Bitcoin transactions, making deposits and withdrawals simple. There is also a 27% rakeback deal to get behind when you register for an account. In addition, ACR Poker has a great set of tournaments to engage in. Competition at the poker room remains relatively soft, though, giving you ample opportunity to come through and steal the pot in the end!
If you'd like to learn more about this excellent poker option and its offerings, feel free to read our thorough and comprehensive ACR Poker review.
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is the busiest crypto poker room online and it caters to players from all over the world, Australia included. Numerous cash game formats are spread here including NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, and 5 Card Omaha. Play here is denominated using Tether (USDT), but you can deposit and withdraw using a few different cryptocurrencies, like Ethereum and Bitcoin.
CoinPoker operates seamlessly on any PC, Mac, Android, or iOS device. Leaderboards are also offered for both cash games and SNGs to help increase your balance. You'll be able to earn 33% ongoing rakeback if you keep a balance of CHP, CoinPoker's unique cryptocurrency.
If you would like to find out more about the poker offerings and promotions available at this top crypto site, head over to our detailed CoinPoker review.
Juicy Stakes
It is always great to access an online poker room available in both download and instant play formats. Juicy Stakes is one of those platforms, meaning that regardless of what your poker preferences are in this respect, it will cater to you. You will also have the possibility of playing casino games alongside the poker options. Therefore, if you ever want to take a break from cards, slots, table games, and other gaming entertainment is also available on the platform. The Juicy Stakes site also supports a range of excellent payment methods.
Perhaps what makes this online poker room more impressive than any of its other features is the inclusion of multiple bonuses and a fantastic rakeback reward. In addition, this site has a great choice of tournaments to get involved in and a weekly freeroll to enjoy. Texas Hold 'em and Omaha poker are both standout options to access in terms of popularity. At the same time, though, Juicy Stakes offers one or two other additions, such as Telesina.
If you would like to learn even more about this poker site and its benefits, please feel free to read our Juicy Stakes Poker review.
Quick Facts About Poker in NT
- Population: 251,396
- Legal Age for Gambling: 18
- Gambling Tax: 10%
- Number of Land-Based Casinos: 2
- Regulated By: The NT Racing Commission
- Most Popular Casino Games: Pokies, Blackjack, Roulette
Towns in NT & Poker
The Northern Territory covers a vast territory of 1,42 million km². Here is a list of the "Statistical Local Areas.":
- Darwin
- Palmerston-East Arm
- Alice Springs
- Litchfield
- Katherine
- Halaby
- Tennant Creek
- Wadeye/Victoria-Daly
- Jabiru
- Yulara
The best brick-and-mortar casino action is in Darwin. However, it is essential to remember that casino games are only allowed in licensed land-based casinos. Regarding other parts of the Northern Territory, available land-based options are predominantly poker & pokie machines in selected clubs and hotels. Licensed land-based casinos have to respect a list of allowed casino games. Therefore, it is possible only to run the games listed below if you have a casino license. Here is a list of permitted casino games :
- American Roulette
- Baccarat
- Big Six Wheel - Money Wheel
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Keno
- Pai Gow
- Poker - all versions
- Poker machines
- Sic Bo - big and small
- Two Up
Online poker options are available from any corner of the Northern Territory, as long as basic hardware (smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop) and a good internet connection are available.
What is the Legal Status of Online Poker in the Northern Territory?
Each of the six states in Australia has a certain level of freedom to enact its own rules for residents to adhere to. Yet when it comes to online poker and online gambling in general, the laws run on an even keel throughout the country. It is because federal law takes precedence over everything else. That governing law targeted various Australian-based online casinos and poker rooms in more recent years.
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 was amended, making it illegal for any operators based in Australia to set up online operations for residents. Those heavy restrictions saw several operators pull out of the Aussie market. And while this may seem like a bad outcome, poker players in the Northern Territory and across Australia still have options. Offshore poker rooms can provide you with the necessary gaming setup.
Even though the government has done its best to block access to a mass of offshore online casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks, and so on, most foreign-based platforms still support registrations from Aussies. Because the law targets operators and not players, you are perfectly within your rights to visit and join an offshore poker platform within the Northern Territory.
The Best Land-Based Casinos in the NT
The NT has two casinos available to visit, which are based in Darwin and Alice Springs. Both of them provide the possibility for playing poker, so if you want to escape the online scene and play against others in the flesh, then this is possible at the casinos. These casinos are very much popular venues with residents of the NT, too.
Mindil Beach Casino Resort
Found in Darwin and formerly known as the SkyCity Casino, Mindil Beach Casino Resort is a premier destination for exceptional casino gaming. With both poker options and a variety of pokies, table games, and more, this is a fantastic resort to visit. State-of-the-art electronic games can also be found within, and you'll find cash poker games running from Thursday through to Sunday every week.
- Address: Mindil Beach
Gilruth Ave
Darwin City
NT 0820
Australia - Contact Info: 61 8 8943 8888
- Working Hours: 24/7
- Casino Games: Pokies, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, Casino War, Money Wheel, Chase the Flush, Keno
- Tournaments: Weekly Tournaments
- Official Website: Mindil Beach Casino Resort – About Us Page
Texas Hold'em Poker tables are located on the upper gaming floor at Mindil Beach Casino Resort.Northern Territory Poker FAQ
Not at all. The government may have stringent laws surrounding poker gameplay, but these target Australian operators rather than players.
Freerolls are tournaments that you can enter without having to pay. So, they're essentially free-to-enter, and Aussie players can certainly get involved in them the same as anyone else.
That depends upon the poker room that you register and play at. Some of them have high volumes of traffic, and others are a little lower. Using our recommended list of online poker sites will allow you to find a poker room that has plenty of traffic.
What is the Status of Problem Gambling in the Northern Territory?
Even though the Northern Territory is one of the less-populated states in Australia, it has the highest rate of problem gambling in the country. This information came about as part of a 2020 report by the Gambling Prevalence and Wellbeing Survey conducted by Menzies School of Health Research. Indigenous, male, and unemployed people from the NT are at a higher risk of suffering from problem gambling symptoms.Figures from the report suggest that about 2,500 adults who regularly spend over their basic limits continue gambling to try and win the money back that they have lost. A further 23,300 Territorians were noted as being at moderate or low risk of becoming problem gamblers. Should you find that you are suffering from such, you can seek help through:
Poker machine losses hit record levels after pandemic shutdowns in the NT. It is fascinating to analyze that Northern Territory gamblers spent record amounts of money by playing poker machines in the period after coronavirus shutdowns last year. Recent research has linked these developments to federal pandemic payments.
Final Word
To sum things up, it is clear that poker players based in the Northern Territory do not have any issues with accessing online poker options. It is not illegal to play at licensed foreign-based poker rooms, and they can provide entertaining enjoyable gaming sessions. So be sure to register at licensed and regulated poker rooms, such as those in our recommended list. After researching dozens of online poker rooms, we provided recommended poker sites based on essential criteria so that Aussie poker players in general and Northern Territory players, in particular, are treated to a fair, safe, and secure gambling environment.