Offline • Social Play Only

Tournament Schedule

Plan Your Next Night of Cards Across Australia

Discover upcoming offline poker tournaments, premium blackjack events Australia wide, and social card game competitions hosted in trusted, stylish venues. Scan key dates, formats and locations at a glance.

Register Your Interest View Event Overview

All events are held in person at licensed Australian venues. No online gambling, betting or financial gaming services are provided.

Next 30 Days

Featured Poker & Blackjack Tournaments

Poker Details Blackjack Details

Browse highlighted live entertainment tournaments for the next month, including signature weekends, cinematic main events and exclusive social gaming experiences. All buy-ins are venue-managed and focused on fun, not online betting.

Highlighted Events This Month

Sample schedule — check with venues for final confirmed times.

High-demand nights
Date City Event Format Approx. Buy-In Seats
Fri 6 June, 7:00 pm Sydney Harbour City Showdown No-Limit Texas Hold'em — Multi-table $80–$120 social buy-in 120 seats
Sat 7 June, 8:00 pm Melbourne Emerald Blackjack Series Blackjack entertainment tournament $40–$60 per session 72 seats
Fri 13 June, 7:30 pm Brisbane River City Deepstack Night Deepstack poker — single re-entry $90–$140 social buy-in 90 seats
Sat 14 June, 7:00 pm Perth Western Lights Blackjack Clash Blackjack points race $50–$80 per session 60 seats
Sun 22 June, 4:00 pm Sydney Sunday Social Mixed Games Mix of Texas Hold'em & social blackjack $40–$70 casual entry 80 seats

All buy-in figures are indicative only and managed directly by host venues. Card Play AU does not process payments or offer online wagering.

Weekly Line-Up

Weekly Poker Nights by City

From intimate poker nights Sydney wide to cinematic Melbourne tables and riverside Brisbane action, these recurring offline poker tournaments keep the Australian poker community connected every week.

Sydney & Surrounds

Iconic harbour nightlife • Tue / Thu / Sun

Poker nights Sydney
  • Tuesday Night Freezeout — 7:00 pm, inner-city bar. Classic Texas Hold'em, structured blind levels, no re-entry. Ideal for focused strategy play.
  • Thursday After-Work Turbo — 6:30 pm, CBD rooftop lounge. Shorter levels, fast-paced and social. Perfect for colleagues and friends.
  • Sunday Deep Social — 4:00 pm, harbourside venue. Deeper starting stacks, relaxed pacing and hosted introductions for new players.

Venue locations and access details are listed on the Venues page.

Melbourne, Brisbane & Beyond

Laneway lounges, riverside decks • Multiple nights

Social gaming events
  • Melbourne Premier Thursdays — 7:30 pm, CBD cocktail venue. Multi-table progressive structure with cinematic lighting and feature tables.
  • Brisbane River Run Fridays — 7:00 pm, riverfront bar. Balanced stack depth, live commentary and leaderboard points for top performers.
  • Rotating City Spotlight — Selected Saturdays across Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast, featuring local hosts and themed poker experiences.

For a high-level overview of all Australian poker nights, explore the Events hub.

Blackjack Entertainment

Scheduled Blackjack Entertainment Competitions

Experience cinematic blackjack events Australia wide, tailored for social fun. Structured as entertainment tournaments, these competitions focus on atmosphere, friendly rivalry and clear house-managed prize formats.

Day City Session Times Format Prize Style
Every Friday Melbourne 7:00 pm & 9:00 pm Points-based blackjack, rotating dealer button Venue-hosted entertainment prizes & experiences
Alternate Saturdays Sydney 8:00 pm Elimination rounds with timed levels Tiered venue rewards, hospitality packages
First Thursday of Month Brisbane 7:30 pm Social blackjack league night Leaderboard points plus venue swag
  • Rules Snapshot: All blackjack competitions use clear, printed rule sheets on-site, with friendly staff available to explain each round.
  • Prize Structures: Prizes are entertainment-focused (such as venue experiences or hospitality offers) and are managed solely by host venues.
  • Entry: Registration is handled in person at each venue. No online betting, wagering or real-money tables are offered via Card Play AU.

For format explanations and participation guidelines, explore the Blackjack page.

Community Gatherings

Live Card Game Gatherings & Social Events

Beyond structured entertainment tournaments, Card Play AU curates relaxed social card gaming events where the focus is connection, learning and community-first play.

Learn & Play Evenings

Monthly • Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

New-player friendly

Guided introductions to poker and blackjack with slower-paced demo rounds, open questions and friendly hosts. Perfect for first-time attendees or groups exploring social gaming events for the first time.

For broader community initiatives and casual meetups, visit the Community page.

Social Mixed Game Nights

Fortnightly • Rotating cities

Mixed formats

Relaxed, low-pressure nights with rotating tables: short-handed poker, fun blackjack variants and optional teaching tables. Designed to help the Australian poker community meet, network and experiment with different card formats.

Daytime Social Sessions

Selected Sundays & public holidays

Family & friends

Earlier sessions in bright, social venues where friends, colleagues and hobby groups gather for casual cards, light hosting and relaxed playlists. Always offline, always entertainment-first.

Premium Venue Dates

Cinematic Nights in Trusted Australian Venues

Explore when and where tournaments are hosted inside Australia's most stylish nightlife spaces. Think low lighting, emerald felt, polished bars and a competitive yet welcoming atmosphere.

Premium Australian nightlife venue featuring poker tables and cinematic lighting
  • Signature Friday Nights: Hosted in flagship venues in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with staged feature tables and live MCs for main entertainment tournaments.
  • Midweek Social Slots: Smaller, intimate rooms ideal for practice, networking and learning the basics in a calm, professional setting.
  • Seasonal Showcases: Collaborations with rooftop bars, speakeasies and theatre-style venues to create cinematic card nights.

For full address details, access notes and venue photography, head to the Venues page or browse the visual highlights in the Community gallery.

Event Format & Participation

How Our Entertainment Tournaments Run

Every schedule listing links back to a clear structure: offline-only, venue-hosted and built for social, responsible entertainment. Understanding these formats makes planning your night simple.

Tournament Structures

Poker, blackjack & mixed events

  • Classic multi-table Texas Hold'em with clearly defined blind levels and breaks.
  • Deepstack and turbo variations for different pacing preferences.
  • Blackjack entertainment tournaments using points, rounds or tables-based scoring rather than online-style betting.

Participation Rules

Clear, venue-managed guidelines

  • Minimum age and identification requirements set by each licensed venue.
  • House rules posted clearly on-site, with staff available for questions before play begins.
  • Respect-first code of conduct to protect a safe, inclusive Australian poker community.

Registration Process

Offline and host-led

  • Most events encourage pre-registration directly with the venue to secure a seat.
  • Some tournaments allow walk-up entries until seats are filled.
  • Card Play AU provides information only and does not process registrations or payments online.

For clarification on any format, send a message via the Contact Us page.

Competitive Edge

Leaderboard-Linked Tournaments

Selected tournaments contribute points to the Card Play AU community leaderboard, celebrating consistent performance and positive table presence across the season.

Upcoming Leaderboard Events

Sample line-up — subject to venue confirmation

Leaderboard eligible
Date Event City Game Points Weighting
Thu 5 June City Lights Weekly Sydney Poker Standard — weekly series
Fri 13 June River City Deepstack Brisbane Poker Elevated — feature event
Sat 21 June Emerald Blackjack Series Melbourne Blackjack Bonus — social entertainment series
Sun 29 June Sunday Social Championship Sydney Mixed Season finale weighting

For rankings, season summaries and spotlight players, explore the Leaderboard page.

Special Showcase Events

Themed Nights & Charity Card Game Occasions

From Ladies Night line-ups to High Roller-style evenings and community charity cards, these limited-run events add extra flair to the schedule.

Ladies Night Social Series

Quarterly • Select venues in Sydney & Melbourne

Themed

Hosted evenings spotlighting women in the Australian poker community, with tailored intros, table hosts and relaxed structures that welcome new and returning players.

High Roller Evening

Twice yearly • Premium CBD venues

Invite-focused

Exclusive, invite-priority tournaments with elevated production, cinematic staging and leaderboard weighting. Still strictly offline and socially focused, with buy-ins and rewards managed by the venue.

Charity Card Game Nights

Seasonal • Partner venues nationwide

Community impact

Collaborative events where card play supports fundraising campaigns run by partner organisations. Card Play AU focuses on format design and awareness; all fundraising is organised by the charity and venue.

Charity events and collaborations are also highlighted on the Community page.

Registration & Waitlists

Registration Windows & Waitlist Timelines

High-demand entertainment tournaments and popular poker nights can fill quickly. Understanding registration windows helps you secure a seat without stress.

Standard Registration

Most weekly events

  • Registrations usually open 1–2 weeks before the event date.
  • Sign-ups are completed directly with the venue via phone, in person or their own website.
  • Seat confirmations, if offered, are provided by the venue — not Card Play AU.

High-Demand Nights

Main events & showcases

  • Premium showcase events may fill during early-access windows at partner venues.
  • Venue-managed waitlists are often used, with SMS or email updates for seat releases.
  • Arriving early on event day improves your chance of claiming a waitlisted spot.

Stay Informed

Plan ahead with confidence

To receive updates when new offline poker tournaments, blackjack entertainment competitions or special social gaming events are added to the schedule, send your preferred cities and regular availability.

Request Schedule Updates

Live Updates

Last-Minute Changes & Notifications

Weather, venue logistics or operational changes can occasionally impact timings. This area outlines how schedule changes are communicated and how you can stay up to date.

What Can Change?

Rare but possible

  • Start times adjusted for venue programming or local events.
  • Table counts or seat capacities updated due to demand.
  • Occasional venue moves within the same city for larger fields.

How You'll Hear

Communication channels

  • Direct contact from the venue if you have registered with them.
  • Updates published on venue-owned digital channels.
  • High-level notices reflected in the Card Play AU schedule summaries when provided in time.

Opt-In Alerts

SMS / Email from venues

Some partner venues offer SMS or email alerts for last-minute schedule changes or new entertainment tournaments. Ask about this when registering.

You can also flag your interest in schedule alerts through the Contact Us form.

FAQ

Event Timing & Planning FAQs

Answers to common questions about when to arrive, how long entertainment tournaments last and how best to plan your evening around offline card play.

What time should I arrive before a tournament starts?

Arriving 30–45 minutes before the posted start time is recommended. This gives you time to check in with the venue, review the structure sheet, grab a drink and settle into the atmosphere without rushing.

How long do offline poker tournaments usually run?

It varies by format and field size, but most standard nightly tournaments run 3–5 hours from shuffle-up to final table. Deepstack or showcase events at premium venues may run longer, with clearly signposted break times.

Are blackjack entertainment competitions shorter than poker events?

Yes. Most blackjack entertainment tournaments are designed as 60–120 minute sessions with fixed rounds and clear scoring. Many venues offer multiple sessions in a single evening so you can choose what fits your schedule.

Do I need to stay for the whole event?

You can always leave earlier if you need to, but for leaderboard-linked tournaments and feature events, staying through to the end maximises your experience and ranking opportunities. Speak with the venue host if you know you may need to depart early.

How far in advance are new events added to the schedule?

Weekly poker nights are usually confirmed 4–6 weeks ahead, while special entertainment tournaments and showcase events may be announced several months in advance. Join venue mailing lists or send us a note via Contact Us to hear about new dates early.

Does Card Play AU run any online poker or online blackjack events?

No. Card Play AU focuses exclusively on offline, in-venue entertainment tournaments, social gaming events and live card game competitions. We do not offer online gambling, betting platforms or financial gaming services of any kind.