{"id":41426,"date":"2026-07-23T16:03:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishpokeropen.com\/sydney\/?p=41426"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:27:28","slug":"irish-eyes-are-smiling-down-under-an-interview-with-lauren-mooney-on-bringing-the-irish-open-to-sydney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishpokeropen.com\/sydney\/2026\/07\/23\/irish-eyes-are-smiling-down-under-an-interview-with-lauren-mooney-on-bringing-the-irish-open-to-sydney\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Eyes Are Smiling Down Under: An Interview with Lauren Mooney on Bringing the Irish Open to Sydney"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

From August 31 to September 14, the Irish Open Sydney<\/a><\/strong> will make history with its debut festival, headlined by a $1 million guaranteed Main Event<\/strong>. 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?<\/p>\n

We caught up with Lauren Mooney to find out, and her story is every bit as compelling as the tournament itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Interview with Lauren Mooney, Co-Owner of Poker Palace<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2013… Wow, reading that really took me back. Time absolutely flies.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I first met JP during that Irish Poker Open, only a couple of months after I’d learned how to hold a deck properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh God… where do I even start?<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

From a European perspective, that was wild.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dealers also weren’t expected to do a lot of the things we’d consider standard\u2014sorting 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although… we might still be a little while away from getting everyone to leave their phones on the rail!<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Poker Palace is the first standalone poker room outside an Australian casino\u2014that’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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

His relationship with Club Marconi\u2014and the relationship we’ve continued to build with the club\u2014gave us an incredible platform to grow from.<\/span><\/p>\n

For me, the vision has always been really simple: bring the quality, professionalism, value and atmosphere of the Irish Open to Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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>> Recommended Accommodations in Sydney<\/strong><\/a> <<<\/p>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Without sounding too clich\u00e9, I think being Irish has probably helped me.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Players don’t always have to agree with a ruling, but they should always understand why it was made.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the day, the rules aren’t there to make poker less enjoyable\u2014they’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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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 \u2013 every little detail matters because one small thing can have a flow-on effect during the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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>> Check Out the Full Schedule of the Irish Open Sydney here<\/strong><\/a> <<<\/p>\n

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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?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n