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  1. #1


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    Australian Casino Trip

    Thinking of planning a trip to Australia for some gambling as well as sight seeing. Any tips from the pros?

    Where is the best place i can exchange some USD to AUD? looking to probably exchange 10-20k if i start losing.

    Do the casinos exchange USD to AUD?

    Im looking to hit the east coast of Australia, doing like a Brisbane down to Victoria kind of trip.

    Any recommendations on travel? places to stay, transportation, etc. anything at all that would be helpful information.

    Do the casinos simply back off like in the US? Are they more like social clubs like Ireland where in their terms of signing up it states no APing? Is it safe to AP?

    Are their BJ rules any majorly different than the US? like ENHC, early surrender, or anything?

    Please, any and all info is greatly appreciated.
    May the Variance be with you.

  2. #2
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    Main thing I can suggest is you bring lots of money. Table minimums for playing from a shoe are $100 in Sydney (and probably Brisbane as well - same group.) Been a while since I've played at Melbourne, but from memory it's also $100 minimum - but if you play 2 boxes you can play $50 each (total $100.) Also, playing from shoes (as opposed to playing from CSM) in AU usually means you have to play from a HL room (again.. that $100 min..) but you can't just wander in there, you have to play rated, and use your card to get in the room. As an International guest that shouldn't be too hard to get sorted - get in touch with one of the hosts from any of the Casinos should be able to help out.
    All casinos in AU are Variations on ENHC - in Sydney for example, if the dealer gets BJ, you only lose one hand if you have split or doubled. Surrender? LOL.
    TBH, conditions in AU are shit.

    Having said that, I'll be over there next week myself.

  3. #3


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    Quote Originally Posted by pnork View Post
    Main thing I can suggest is you bring lots of money. Table minimums for playing from a shoe are $100 in Sydney (and probably Brisbane as well - same group.) Been a while since I've played at Melbourne, but from memory it's also $100 minimum - but if you play 2 boxes you can play $50 each (total $100.) Also, playing from shoes (as opposed to playing from CSM) in AU usually means you have to play from a HL room (again.. that $100 min..) but you can't just wander in there, you have to play rated, and use your card to get in the room. As an International guest that shouldn't be too hard to get sorted - get in touch with one of the hosts from any of the Casinos should be able to help out.
    All casinos in AU are Variations on ENHC - in Sydney for example, if the dealer gets BJ, you only lose one hand if you have split or doubled. Surrender? LOL.
    TBH, conditions in AU are shit.

    Having said that, I'll be over there next week myself.
    How about poker games, any idea? (No limit Texas hold em and pot limit Omaha)

  4. #4


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    Quote Originally Posted by pnork View Post
    Main thing I can suggest is you bring lots of money. Table minimums for playing from a shoe are $100 in Sydney (and probably Brisbane as well - same group.) Been a while since I've played at Melbourne, but from memory it's also $100 minimum - but if you play 2 boxes you can play $50 each (total $100.) Also, playing from shoes (as opposed to playing from CSM) in AU usually means you have to play from a HL room (again.. that $100 min..) but you can't just wander in there, you have to play rated, and use your card to get in the room. As an International guest that shouldn't be too hard to get sorted - get in touch with one of the hosts from any of the Casinos should be able to help out.
    All casinos in AU are Variations on ENHC - in Sydney for example, if the dealer gets BJ, you only lose one hand if you have split or doubled. Surrender? LOL.
    TBH, conditions in AU are shit.

    Having said that, I'll be over there next week myself.
    And are they going to have my OSN/griffin info if im forced to play rated with them?

  5. #5
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    No idea on poker (any version, sorry.)

    No OSN/Griffin in AU - AFAIK that's US only.

  6. #6
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    Australian BJ is absolutely terrible when compared to the US.

    We only have two casinos left where there are public shoe games available; Cairns and Crown, Melbourne. In Cairns you'll find 6 deck S17 3:2 games, D9-11, SPL2, OBO. Pen around 1-1.6/6. Mins are generally $20, however, they've been running a promotion recently with $10 mins. Melbourne has $50 shoe games on the floor, however, H17, 8 decks, D9-11 and OBBO (0.76% HE).

    You'll find similar games to the ones described in Cairns in the VIP rooms at Townsville, Brisbane, and Gold Coast, where CSMs litter the main floor. Same with Sydney. These are all on the east coast. The only difference will be OBO/OBBO. Adelaide used ENHC, however, that's not east coast, so I doubt you'll venture there.

    Poker should be something you aim for, Gold Coast has a great poker scene. I was there last week while a 250k buy in tournament was running. Cary Katz was there, plus other pros. They have $1/$3 NL ($300 max buy in), $2/$5 NL ($500 max buy in), and PLO (not sure on limits). By far the best poker room in Australia is in Melbourne. It's where the Aussie Millions is hosted. Again, plenty of $1/2, $1/$3, and $2/$5 NLHE, plus PLO.

  7. #7


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    Australia has only 13 casinos in the whole country – four in Queensland, two each in Tasmania and the Northern Territory and one each in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia so each casino has a monopoly in its own area unlike the US where commercial, tribal and riverboat casinos compete for business.

    Blackjack is played using four, six and eight decks with mediocre rule sets and the basic strategy house edges all exceed 0.5%. For the counter the SCORE is quite low meaning larger swings so a decent bankroll is required. Backcounting and Wonging is normally recommended as play all is a waste of time in my view. Shufflemaster 126 CSM’s are predominant on the main floors and mid tier areas but shoes are available in the high limit areas with modest to good penetration. International visitors can usually play on a program, the terms of which depend on how much front money you show. Casinos in this country do back off advantage players in the form of warnings, restrictions and bannings but in my experience most are quite tolerant as they would prefer to let you play unless you come in with a team and use large spreads. Australian casinos are businesses, not social clubs like Ireland, and they will not think twice about relieving you of your bankroll.

    I have watched and played with Americans for years at our Blackjack and Pontoon (Spanish 21 variant) tables and by far the biggest problem they have is adjusting to our Hole Card rules, some of which are unique and I would encourage you to learn these differences along with local basic strategy before you sit down at our tables.

    Exchanging US to AUD should be done at a bank as airport and casinos offer unfavourable exchange rates. If large amounts are involved the casino will open a holding account and this obviously requires ID. The rate of exchange at this time is around 1AUD = 0.67USD. Mixing tourism with your trip is a good idea as there is plenty to see and do. Australian seasons are the opposite of the US so the northern part of the country is warmer in the winter months (June – August) which corresponds with the US summer.

    No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker is available at all our casinos and Pot Limit Omaha is available at the larger ones eg. Sydney and Melbourne. A time charge and rake is payable at some of the casinos and others only charge a rake. The above posts all contain good and accurate information so hopefully this will help you plan your trip.
    Casino Enemy No.1

  8. #8


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    Quote Originally Posted by davethebuilder View Post
    International visitors can usually play on a program, the terms of which depend on how much front money you show.
    Can you elaborate on this?

  9. #9


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    Quote Originally Posted by umbrellaman View Post
    Can you elaborate on this?
    There are several types of VIP programs offered by Australian casinos to individual high rollers and international visitors. These are primarily determined by the particular game and the buy in amount. The terms and minimum spend differ between casinos but in all cases to qualify for a rebate the player must play rated.

    With regard to Blackjack in Sydney a player will need to join as a casino member with a minimum of $A25,000 front money which can be deposited into a holding account. Complimentary points of various types are awarded to the player based on average betting levels, participation rate and time at the table. Special coloured chips are used which indicates to the pit that the player is on a VIP program. A VIP player is assigned a host who can also negotiate air fares, accommodation, meals and drinks.

    Baccarat and Roulette players can take advantage of another type of VIP program that requires a minimum of $A10,000 in front money and the player must turn over a certain amount of money at the tables within a specified time in order to qualify for a rebate.

    There are no programs available for Pontoon.

    In summary, it’s best to contact the casino prior to your visit and request a host who will negotiate a package for you. Alternatively, if the VIP programs are not suitable and you still wish to play I suggest requesting a manager’s pass which can be issued for three days subject to an identity check.
    Casino Enemy No.1

  10. #10


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    Quote Originally Posted by davethebuilder View Post
    There are several types of VIP programs offered by Australian casinos to individual high rollers and international visitors. These are primarily determined by the particular game and the buy in amount. The terms and minimum spend differ between casinos but in all cases to qualify for a rebate the player must play rated.

    With regard to Blackjack in Sydney a player will need to join as a casino member with a minimum of $A25,000 front money which can be deposited into a holding account. Complimentary points of various types are awarded to the player based on average betting levels, participation rate and time at the table. Special coloured chips are used which indicates to the pit that the player is on a VIP program. A VIP player is assigned a host who can also negotiate air fares, accommodation, meals and drinks.

    Baccarat and Roulette players can take advantage of another type of VIP program that requires a minimum of $A10,000 in front money and the player must turn over a certain amount of money at the tables within a specified time in order to qualify for a rebate.

    There are no programs available for Pontoon.

    In summary, it’s best to contact the casino prior to your visit and request a host who will negotiate a package for you. Alternatively, if the VIP programs are not suitable and you still wish to play I suggest requesting a manager’s pass which can be issued for three days subject to an identity check.
    awesome man this is good info.

    i have no issue putting up 25k front money. as long as once they back me off they dont just keep all the money i wire into an account....

    how many hours do you see me getting in before they tell me no more? is a loss rebate also something a host might be able to do?
    May the Variance be with you.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by blueman View Post
    how many hours do you see me getting in before they tell me no more? is a loss rebate also something a host might be able to do?
    I don't foresee you lasting particularly long at any given casino, slightly longer at the larger ones like Crown Melbourne, or The Star Sydney.

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by blueman View Post
    awesome man this is good info.

    i have no issue putting up 25k front money. as long as once they back me off they dont just keep all the money i wire into an account....

    how many hours do you see me getting in before they tell me no more? is a loss rebate also something a host might be able to do?
    Australian casinos are subject to anti money laundering and counter terrorism financing regulations when dealing with amounts over $A10,000. This means that the source of the money needs to be clearly identified so for international visitors bank wire transfers are the safest, easiest and quickest way to move money into and out of a casino holding account. Once set up you are free to draw on these funds for your gambling activities. Win or lose the balance is adjusted accordingly but at all times your money is safe…no-one is going to steal it.

    In Australia, there is a difference between a VIP program and a rebate. A VIP program is a set of playing conditions which a casino offers for a particular game, the details of which is dependent on the amount of front money you show. A rebate is an amount of money refunded to the gambler based on total turnover within a specified time frame and this can form part of a VIP program.

    Blackjack has a relatively low house edge so Australian casinos don’t really offer that much to the player. For example, a blackjack player can play on a VIP program but will not receive a rebate. Instead, they are offered a series of complimentary points which can then be converted to cash.

    Baccarat and Roulette have higher house edges so the VIP programs are more generous. For example, a Baccarat player who turns over $A200,000 within 28 days will qualify for a 0.7% rebate.

    The above are just some examples which can vary by casino and by player. I suggest that you contact a casino host to sort out the details so you understand what will be offered to you prior to your visit. Good luck.
    Casino Enemy No.1

  13. #13


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    Quote Originally Posted by davethebuilder View Post
    Australia has only 13 casinos in the whole country – four in Queensland, two each in Tasmania and the Northern Territory and one each in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia so each casino has a monopoly in its own area unlike the US where commercial, tribal and riverboat casinos compete for business.

    Blackjack is played using four, six and eight decks with mediocre rule sets and the basic strategy house edges all exceed 0.5%. For the counter the SCORE is quite low meaning larger swings so a decent bankroll is required. Backcounting and Wonging is normally recommended as play all is a waste of time in my view. Shufflemaster 126 CSM’s are predominant on the main floors and mid tier areas but shoes are available in the high limit areas with modest to good penetration. International visitors can usually play on a program, the terms of which depend on how much front money you show. Casinos in this country do back off advantage players in the form of warnings, restrictions and bannings but in my experience most are quite tolerant as they would prefer to let you play unless you come in with a team and use large spreads. Australian casinos are businesses, not social clubs like Ireland, and they will not think twice about relieving you of your bankroll.

    I have watched and played with Americans for years at our Blackjack and Pontoon (Spanish 21 variant) tables and by far the biggest problem they have is adjusting to our Hole Card rules, some of which are unique and I would encourage you to learn these differences along with local basic strategy before you sit down at our tables.

    Exchanging US to AUD should be done at a bank as airport and casinos offer unfavourable exchange rates. If large amounts are involved the casino will open a holding account and this obviously requires ID. The rate of exchange at this time is around 1AUD = 0.67USD. Mixing tourism with your trip is a good idea as there is plenty to see and do. Australian seasons are the opposite of the US so the northern part of the country is warmer in the winter months (June – August) which corresponds with the US summer.

    No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker is available at all our casinos and Pot Limit Omaha is available at the larger ones eg. Sydney and Melbourne. A time charge and rake is payable at some of the casinos and others only charge a rake. The above posts all contain good and accurate information so hopefully this will help you plan your trip.
    Awesome info. So concern: are you saying that they are likely to steal your bankroll after backing you off ?

    Do you still play there?

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