From Humble Beginnings to a Southern Hemisphere Legend
The history of Aussie Millions dates back to 1998, when the first major championship took place at Crown Melbourne. Initially, it was a modest tournament with a buy-in of 1,000A$, 74 entries, and a prize pool of 74,000A$. However, this local event gradually transformed into a festival that attracted players from all over the world.
The turning point came during the poker boom. Danny McDonagh, a key figure in the series' history and its returning tournament director in 2026, recalled that the Main Event grew from 133 entries to 747 entries between 2004 and 2007. The combination of a rich satellite offer, a strong local poker base, and the arrival of top global professionals created an atmosphere that helped Aussie Millions become one of the most respected live festivals in the world.
Melbourne always had its own poker identity. It wasn't just a destination where players came to play a tournament and leave. Aussie Millions had the character of a major sporting festival. Local fans flocked to watch big names, Australian qualifiers had the chance to sit at the table with poker icons, and Crown Melbourne transformed into the poker epicenter of Asia-Pacific for several weeks.
Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Bryn Kenney, and Home Triumphs
Throughout its history, Aussie Millions has been the stage for numerous stories that are still etched in poker memory. In 2007, the Main Event was won by the legendary Gus Hansen, who was one of the most well-known faces of the game during the height of the televised poker boom. His victory for 1,500,000A$ further helped raise the series' profile among fans worldwide.
High rollers were a chapter of their own. Aussie Millions became a venue for some of the most expensive tournaments of its era. Phil Ivey dominated in the 250,000A$ Challenge, Erik Seidel won the Super High Roller for 2,500,000A$ in 2011, and in subsequent years, Melbourne became a place where the world's biggest poker stars regularly competed in extremely high-stakes events.
Another compelling story came in 2019. That year, Bryn Kenney won the largest Main Event in Aussie Millions history, which attracted 822 entries and generated a prize pool of 8,220,000A$. The final three players made a deal, with Kenney taking home 1,272,598A$ as the winner.
The last champion before the break was Australia's Vincent Wan in 2020. The Main Event that year attracted 820 entries, creating a prize pool of 8,200,000A$. After a deal among the final three, Wan claimed 1,318,000A$, matching runner-up Ngoc Tai Hoang. The final table had a strong historical feel, featuring Erik Seidel, who returned to the Aussie Millions big stage after many years.
A Return With Trust in a Familiar Name: Danny McDonagh at the Helm Again
This year's comeback is not just about the brand. Crown Melbourne is also banking on the expertise of someone well-acquainted with the series. Danny McDonagh returns as the tournament director in 2026, having been closely linked with Aussie Millions’ growth. For players, this is a crucial signal that the festival aims to be more than just a nostalgic comeback, but a serious attempt to revive its golden era.
The festival launched symbolically with a charitable Celebrity Challenge featuring 24 VIP guests, including famous personalities, poker faces, and Crown Melbourne representatives. The event was won by Andrew Bassat, who defeated Tom Hawkins in heads-up play, but the evening was primarily about charity - raising 25,000A$ for Street Side Medics through the Crown Resorts Foundation.
What Aussie Millions 2026 Offers
The main program of Aussie Millions 2026 spans from April 24 to May 10, offering a mix of classic no-limit hold'em tournaments, bounty formats, PLO, mixed games, and high roller action. The festival opens with a 1,500A$ Opening Event featuring a 1,000,000A$ guarantee, but the real highlight remains the 10,600A$ Main Event, starting on May 4 and concluding with the final table on May 10.
| Date | Event | Buy-in |
| April 24 – 28 | Opening Event | 1,500A$ |
| April 28 – 30 | Mystery Bounty | 1,500A$ |
| May 1 – 2 | 5K Challenge | 5,000A$ |
| May 3 – 4 | 25K Challenge | 25,000A$ |
| May 4 – 10 | Aussie Millions Main Event | 10,600A$ |
| May 4 | Pot Limit Omaha | 1,500A$ |
| May 5 | Teams Event NLHE/PLO | 4,000A$ |
| May 6 | Shot Clock Terminator | 1,500A$ |
| May 8 – 9 | Deep Freeze NLHE | 2,500A$ |
| May 8 – 9 | 5K PLO | 5,000A$ |
| May 10 | Closing Event | 1,500A$ |
It will be intriguing to see how the international scene responds to the return. Aussie Millions has always excelled at bringing together local qualifiers, Australian legends, the Asian high roller scene, and big names from the U.S. and Europe. The series now faces the test of whether one of the most beloved live poker brands can reclaim its place among the elite after such a long hiatus.
Sources – PokerNews, CrownMelbourne, X
