When we announced that the Irish Poker Open was going global for the first time in its 45-year history, the poker world took notice. Players wasted no time making history, with many jumping into the very first opening flight of the Irish Open Sydney Main Event while still in Dublin. Among those who secured an early Day 2 seat was our very own Irish Poker Open ambassador, Chris Dowling.

Taking the Irish Open to Sydney was never going to be just another stop on the calendar. It had to feel like home, and there was no better place than Poker Palace. At the heart of this landmark partnership is Irish-born co-owner Lauren Mooney, whose incredible journey has taken her from dealing cards in Dublin to building one of Australia’s most respected poker venues.

From August 31 to September 14, the Irish Open Sydney will make history with its debut festival, headlined by a $1 million guaranteed Main Event. But how did this ambitious partnership come together? What does it take to bring the spirit of the Irish Open halfway around the world? And what can players expect from a festival that’s set to become one of the biggest poker events Australia has ever seen?

We caught up with Lauren Mooney to find out, and her story is every bit as compelling as the tournament itself.

 

Interview with Lauren Mooney, Co-Owner of Poker Palace

 

You started working on the European poker circuit in 2013. What first drew you to poker, and how did a girl from Ireland end up running one of Sydney’s most iconic poker rooms?

2013… Wow, reading that really took me back. Time absolutely flies.

When I was 17, I got accepted into college in Dublin and my dad managed to get me a job dealing in the Penthouse in Swords. That’s where I was first introduced to poker. Poker was pretty common where I grew up anyway, and the lads in my family are all mad into cards, so I definitely had a bit of a head start.

Completely by chance, Glenn Doyle, who is now a well known Tournament Director on both the Irish and International poker circuit, ended up on my table that very first night. Looking back, if it hadn’t been for him being so patient and encouraging, I honestly think I’d have thrown in the towel there and then.

Not long after that I dealt my first Irish Poker Open, met some incredible people and everything just snowballed. After graduating, I moved to Sydney planning to spend a year travelling with friends while dealing a few nights a week at the Poker Palace. Obviously that year didn’t quite go to plan, because here we are.

It’s pretty surreal when I think about it, but everything I learned working throughout Ireland and Europe laid the foundations for what we’ve built today. I genuinely don’t think I’d be able to do what I do now without those experiences.

 

You have roots in Ireland and have worked extensively in European poker. How did your path cross with JP McCann, co-owner of the Irish Poker Open, and what was it like working with him before your move to Australia?

I first met JP during that Irish Poker Open, only a couple of months after I’d learned how to hold a deck properly.

I think because I was so hopeless, and probably just to stop my dad pestering him, JP had me helping him with bust outs on KHoldem, and we just got on really well from there.

He was always incredibly good to me, giving me shifts at his one-day and weekend events and taking the time to teach me the little things that you don’t learn straight away. JP’s a real straight shooter. If you’re genuine, work hard and don’t take the piss, he’ll always make time for you.

The following year a local dealer position became available at the Irish Open, and JP and Dani Paynter gave me my chance. The rest is history.

Those years working the Irish Open are some of my favourite memories in poker. I talked about them constantly after moving to Australia, probably to the point where the players were sick of hearing about it.

 

You’ve described the Australian poker industry as “a challenge” because things are run very differently there. Can you paint a picture for our readers? What were the biggest culture shocks when you first started working in the Australian poker scene?

Oh God… where do I even start?

Firstly, I absolutely love Australia, and Australian players are some of the friendliest, funniest and most laid-back people you’ll ever meet. But from a procedural point of view, it was definitely a culture shock.

When I first arrived, it wasn’t unusual in independent rooms for players to choose their own seats, move during tournaments to sit with friends or away from people they didn’t like, or even decide where they’d move when tables broke. Balancing tables often came down to whoever volunteered first.

From a European perspective, that was wild.

Dealers also weren’t expected to do a lot of the things we’d consider standard—sorting decks during breaks, running chip races, protecting tables or even staying completely neutral during hands. It wasn’t uncommon to hear commentary on live hands or see side bets happening without anyone thinking twice about it. It honestly blew my mind.

I’ve always been pretty stubborn when it comes to procedures because that’s how I was taught in Ireland. Rules exist for a reason, and consistency protects everyone. I definitely spoke up, which made me stand out pretty quickly. At the time I thought that was the worst possible thing, but looking back it’s probably what shaped my career.

From the players’ perspective, this 21-year-old Irish girl was suddenly handing out warnings and penalties for things they’d never been pulled up on before, so naturally there was some resistance.

The biggest lesson I learned came from people like JP himself, and Nick O’Hara (One of the head Tournament Directors at the Irish Open). If you take the time to explain why a rule exists, treat everyone exactly the same and never make it personal, players eventually respect that. Consistency earns trust, and I think that’s probably become one of my biggest strengths.

Although… we might still be a little while away from getting everyone to leave their phones on the rail!

 

 

The Poker Palace is the first standalone poker room outside an Australian casino—that’s quite a legacy. When you and the team took over in 2020, what was your vision for the venue, and how have you brought that to life?

I have to give a huge amount of credit to the previous owner, Frank, because what he achieved with an independent poker room really paved the way for poker in Sydney.

At a time when self-dealt tournaments were the norm, Frank always believed in professional dealers and cared about keeping up with international standards. He introduced events like the $2,500 High Roller, which is still one of our most recognised tournaments today, and little touches like catered dinners made players feel they were getting something special.

His relationship with Club Marconi—and the relationship we’ve continued to build with the club—gave us an incredible platform to grow from.

For me, the vision has always been really simple: bring the quality, professionalism, value and atmosphere of the Irish Open to Australia.

The launch of the Australian Poker Open in 2023 was probably the moment that vision became reality. At the time it was Sydney’s biggest guaranteed tournament series, and seeing what Rod, his team, Club Marconi and Doltone House were able to produce together made me incredibly proud.

We’re always trying to raise the bar because I genuinely believe Australian players deserve events that are every bit as good as what you’d expect anywhere else in the world.

 

>> Recommended Accommodations in Sydney <<

 

You’ve been described as “strict” when it comes to rulings, modelling your approach on TDA and casino rules. How do you balance maintaining that integrity with keeping the friendly, club-like atmosphere that players love at the Poker Palace?

Without sounding too cliché, I think being Irish has probably helped me.

I’m on the floor as much as I can be, and I make a real effort to say hello to people, whether they’re playing for the first time or they’ve been coming to us for years. It’s much easier to have difficult conversations with players when they know you’re approachable and genuinely care about their experience.

I’m definitely strict when it comes to rulings, but I’m never interested in throwing my weight around. My job is to apply the rules consistently, explain decisions clearly and make sure everyone is treated equally.

Players don’t always have to agree with a ruling, but they should always understand why it was made.

At the end of the day, the rules aren’t there to make poker less enjoyable—they’re there to protect the integrity of the game and every single player in the room. If people know they’ll always get a fair, unbiased decision, that creates the relaxed atmosphere everyone enjoys because they trust the process.

 

The Poker Palace has hosted massive events like the Marconi Christmas Cup with over $400,000 in prize pools. What does it take to run events of that scale, and what makes the Poker Palace stand out from other Sydney venues?

A lot more planning than people realise! By the time players walk through the doors, months of work have already gone into it. Staffing, structures, logistics, registrations, liaising with the club, catering, production, sponsorships, compliance – every little detail matters because one small thing can have a flow-on effect during the event.

The biggest thing that sets us apart is that we never wanted to be just another poker room. We wanted to create an experience. We invest heavily in professional dealers and floor staff, we pay attention to the little things, and we genuinely care about the player experience from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave. Whether you’re playing a $250 side event or a High Roller, you should feel like you’re playing a professionally run event. I think that’s what has built such a loyal player base for us.

 

The Irish Poker Open is coming to Sydney for the first time ever, and going international for the first time ever, and the Poker Palace is hosting it. How did this historic partnership come about? Was it through your connection with JP McCann?

It’s no secret that my relationship with JP got the conversation started, but relationships only open doors. You still have to deliver, and I hope that JP and his team can see that we share the same values when it comes to running events.

For me, it’s incredibly special because it’s come full circle. The Irish Open gave me my first real opportunity in this industry, and so many of the people involved back then helped shape my career. To now be trusted to host the first international Irish Open is something I’m unbelievably proud of, both personally and professionally.

 

>> Check Out the Full Schedule of the Irish Open Sydney here <<

 

For those who haven’t experienced it, what makes the Irish Poker Open so special? JP McCann talks about the “craic” and the unique atmosphere, how do you plan to bring that Irish flavour to Sydney?

The poker is obviously fantastic, but that’s almost secondary to the atmosphere. The Irish Open has this incredible ability to make every player feel welcome, whether they’re playing their first tournament or they’re a high roller who’s travelled halfway around the world. It’s competitive, but it’s never pretentious.

The craic is a real thing. People come for the poker but stay for the people. There are laughs everywhere, friendships are made, and everyone is there because they genuinely love the game.

That’s exactly what we want to recreate in Sydney. Great structures, great staff and great hospitality, but also encouraging players to enjoy themselves away from the tables as well. If people leave saying, “That felt like an Irish Open,” then we’ve done our job.

 

The Irish Open has been running in Dublin since 1980, it’s the oldest No Limit Hold’em event in Europe, and the second oldest in the world outside of the World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas. Now it’s going global with stops in Sydney, Marrakech, and the US. What does it mean to you, personally, to be hosting the very first international stop right there at the Poker Palace?

It’s honestly one of those moments where you have to stop and pinch yourself. If you’d told the 17-year-old girl dealing her first tournament in Swords that one day she’d be hosting the first international Irish Open, she’d have laughed at you.

It’s a huge honour because I know what the brand means to so many people. The Irish Open isn’t just another tournament series; it’s part of poker history. To be trusted with that responsibility means the world to me, and it’s something our whole team is incredibly proud of.

 

With a $1 million guaranteed Main Event, this is going to be one of the biggest poker events Australia has ever seen. What can players expect from the Sydney festival in terms of schedule, side events, and the overall experience?

We wanted to build a schedule that genuinely has something for everyone. Whether you’re playing satellites, the Main Event, PLO, mixed games or the High Rollers, there’ll be plenty of opportunities throughout the festival.

More importantly though, we want it to feel like a festival, not just a tournament. Great food, great production, plenty happening around the venue and an atmosphere where people want to hang around after they’ve bagged or busted. We want players to look back on the week as an experience, not just a result.

 

You have seen poker from both sides, as a professional on the European circuit and now as a venue operator in Australia. Where do you see the Australian live poker scene heading in the next five years?

I’m genuinely optimistic. Australian poker has grown enormously over the last few years, and players are travelling more than ever and expecting higher standards, which is only a good thing.

I think we’ll continue to see bigger festivals, stronger partnerships with international brands and a continued focus on professionalism. Australia has some incredibly passionate players, and I think we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible if we keep raising the standard across the board.

 

JP McCann has stated the ambition is to make the Irish Open “the biggest tournament in the world” by its 50th anniversary in 2029. With Sydney being the first stop in its international expansion, do you see the Poker Palace becoming a regular fixture on the global poker calendar for the Irish Poker Open?

I’d certainly love that. Right now, our focus is making this first one an overwhelming success. If we do that, hopefully it’s the beginning of a long-term relationship.

Sydney deserves a place on the international poker calendar. It’s an incredible city, we’ve got a fantastic venue, and Australian players have shown time and time again that they’ll support quality events. We’d love for this to become something players from all over the world put in their calendars every year.

With regards to JP, nothing has ever stopped that man from achieving everything he sets his hopes on and I have absolutely no doubt the Irish Open will continue to grow exponentially.

 

Australia has unique regulations when it comes to poker and gambling. What challenges does that present for venues like the Poker Palace, and what opportunities do you see for growth?

The regulatory environment definitely presents challenges, and sometimes it means things take longer or are more complicated than they would be elsewhere. But they’re the rules, and it’s our job to work within them professionally.

The opportunity lies in continuing to build trust with players, venues and regulators by showing that poker can be run to an exceptionally high standard. The more professionalism we bring to the industry, the stronger its future becomes.

 

The Poker Palace has built a reputation for professionalism and quality events. What’s next for the venue? Any exciting plans or expansions on the horizon beyond the Irish Open?

The funny thing is we’re always planning the next thing before the current one has even finished.

Our biggest goal is continuing to improve every single event we run. We’re constantly investing in our staff, our systems and the player experience because I don’t think you can ever stand still in this industry.

Beyond that, we’d obviously love to continue attracting major international partnerships and keep giving Australian players opportunities they previously would’ve had to travel overseas for and the Australian Poker Open is our main focus.

 

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring poker players in Australia, what would it be?

For players, I’d say don’t underestimate the importance of attitude. Everyone studies strategy these days, but being respectful to staff and other players, being willing to learn and conducting yourself professionally will take you a long way in this game.

Finally, Lauren, what’s the one thing you miss most about the Irish poker scene?

As for Ireland… it’s the people, without question. The banter, the humour and the sense of community is unlike anywhere else. You could walk into a card room knowing nobody and leave with ten new friends. Thankfully, I’ve been lucky enough to bring a little bit of that Irish spirit over to Australia, and hopefully this Irish Open will give everyone here a proper taste of it.

The countdown is on. From August 31 to September 14, the Irish Open Sydney takes over Poker Palace at Club Marconi for what promises to be one of the biggest poker festivals Australia has ever seen. Headlined by a $1 million guaranteed Main Event, the schedule is packed with exciting side events, satellites, and plenty of action for players of all levels.

If you’re planning the trip, now is the perfect time to start preparing. Stay up to date with all the latest festival news on our website and across our social media channels. And while you’re at it, be sure to check out our guide to the best places to stay, must-see attractions, and top things to do in Sydney so you can make the most of your time Down Under.