https://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/poker/home.

Still closed because of pandemic. Restrictions have been tough in Victoria. Card To been closed since middle of march Sometime.

I'd say that poker in Melbourne is effectively dead. The Aussie Millions will not return, not in 2021, not in 2022, any future beyond that wouldn't attract many internationals.

The poker room can open if they wish, there is no government restriction due to covid. Crown will re-open a new and much smaller poker room in a few months time. Expect the exorbitant rake to be increased again.

https://twitter.com/CrownPoker/statu...16739676983299

So - just wild guesses then?

Please shut the **** up and stop spreading lies.

The casino has to still abide by the 1per4sqm rule and also needs to have everything "socially distanced" (meaning tables all have to be 1.5m apart etc). Given that poker is one of the least profitable areas as we all no, there seems little incentive for Crown to get it up and going.

I saw a suit when I was shopping yesterday. He said it looks like management are ready to abandon Aussie Millions, and the space downstairs has already been re-allocated for higher profit stuff. He said they haven't fully given up on poker, but its new permanent home would be upstairs in the corner. No chance before footy starts up though. The 24/7 opening has gone too. They know they can make money over the weekend, but he said the casino overall is in deep trouble, poker is low priority, and they just want the easy money rolling in for now.
I'm not holding my breath. Looks like Treasury and Jupiter's have re-opened poker with 7-seat tables; if I'm desperate before winter, that might be the go. Crown Poker has been closed for 8 months, talk is cheap though. Wouldn't be surprised either if it never re-opened.

Just went in. The Poker Room downstairs is now open and full - of blackjack tables! A pit boss said the plan is to reopen poker up on the first floor in January sometime. Says no point at the moment since they're limited to five players per table.

thanks for the update

Poker is dead in Australia, live and online. At least we can thank covid for removing poker from the Crown dungeon. I wouldn't be surprised if the Aussie Millions changes its name. It will never be the same again. How many satellite winners would they get for 2022? How many internationals would come in 2022? It's done. Return the name to what it was pre-2007, the Crown Australian Poker Championships.

I have been hearing Poker might be sacrificed because of the licence enquiry that is underway at Crown. There was money laundering in poker a few years back, in order to get a cut down licence renewal, some things have to go, and poker is one of the areas on the list. Crown gambling will shrink and they will focus on entertainment and dining/bars more.
Will be a much smaller casino after the enquiry. It's been 9 months; don't think they are overly worried about shedding poker and a few other gambling areas. Losing the high roller junket stuff might put a dent in the share price though.

Not gunna lose any sleep waiting for it to return - looks dead now.

Went in again today - both a pit boss and a dealer think poker will be opening upstairs sometime in the next two to four weeks, depending on what the govt says/does.

Any updates as of Jan?

Surely for aussie millions they will be keen to open up!
Else I'll have to find a home game that is a bit bigger than my mates $1/$1

Oops I meant **surely for the aus open tennis they’ll be keen to open

Gonna miss the Aussie millions/Aus open/F1 crowds

F*CK the F1 - a bunch of petrol heads take over the parklands for four days and cause disruption for an entire two months to local residents and the entire Albert Park lake area. Should NEVER have been allowed and it should be banished to the outer burbs immediately.

Spoke to a couple of dealers who say they're not sure when poker's coming back. Seems Crown are waiting to be allowed at least six players to a table (currently it's four). I noticed the baccarat players are sitting about as close as poker players were when playing eight-handed btw.

Rats deserting the sinking ship now. Joel Williams off to APL indicates Aussie Millions totally gone. Whether there is interest by management, or poker players still around, when the Covid All Clear is given (at least another 12 months away), is now looking highly unlikely.
No change by Xmas and it has gone forever.

If they reopen the poker room when the rest of the casino is under pressure from covid restrictions, we should apply maximum pressure for reduced rake.

They will be desperate for turnover, and this will be one of the rare times that we have them by the balls. half drop or sit out.

I agree. As I said last year, I think the Aussie Millions is history, and cash games will never return to any meaningful level. Crown might not even own the casino by the end of the year.

I think you're dreaming. The more poker tables a casino has, the more money they lose. With a limited number of tables, all full, and probably a waiting list, the floor would have a chuckle at suggestions of a reduced rake.

WA Govt just announced a licence inquiry recommendation into Crown Perth. Victorian Govt won't be far behind; Crown Melbourne is in deep deep trouble. They have bigger problems than being concerned that poker hasn't restarted.

If poker did restart in a couple of years time, they will be looking to make the sort of money they get from house games. Expect a huge increase in commission rates; 10% UNCAPPED wouldn't surprise.

Sydney is stuffed - If you want to play poker in a casino, Brisbane and Gold Coast are the only options for the next couple of years at least.

I used to hear the worst reviews about Brisbane’s poker - not sure if it is any better now post-covid. Gold Coast was pretty good during that WPT in 2019.

With the 5 person rule at home gatherings now in VIC might just fly up to QLD to play for a bit

Perth Burswood any good?

Crown Resorts Ltd just reported a half-yearly loss of $120.9 million. The previous half-year saw a $218.2 million profit.

Board resignations this month: Chief Executive Ken Barton; Directors Andrew Demetriou, Michael Johnston and Guy Jalland

Remaining directors: Helen Coonan, John Horvath, Jane Halton, Harold Mitchell, John Poynton, Antonia Korsanos

If at least two more directors don't resign, Crown Sydney may not be permitted to open, and Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth may find themselves in danger of losing their gaming licence.

Add Harold Mitchell to the list of directors that have resigned, and now a royal commission has been announced into Crown's suitability to hold its Victorian casino licence.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/royal...rown-melbourne

Haven’t been in a couple years but it was OK when I went.
Smaller than Melb/Sydney/& new GC poker area but no complaints.
On weeknights there would be a couple of 2/5 games and maybe 1 or 2 1/2 or 1/3. Never played on weekends but I’m guessing just longer lines - wasn’t a huge room.

Thanks 2xanman! You mention the GC poker area - are the 2/5+ NLHE games any good up there? I haven't been for over a decade but recall long waiting lists and only a few games.

No probs - and yeah Gold Coast is WAY better now. They had a big refurb 2018-2019 and its a lot nicer now.
I went 2019 for the WPT event and a couple times after that. I personally love the room because it has more natural light and usually more poker tables than the demand is there for.

In terms of the game its been good each time Ive gone, I cant remember their biggest usual game I think its 5-10 but each time I went the table was ~40% people clearly on holiday and relaxing, 1 or 2 pensioners and maybe 1-2 locals/regs who were very average compared to the 5/10+ crew at crown.
On a peak time i had to wait maybe 15/20 mins to get a table (not necessarily the game I wanted). They have had a lot of tables now and enough dealers to man them, dunno about post Covid tho.

Am planning to go up after the border opens and can report back