Deal or No Deal (Australian game show)

Deal or No Deal (Australia)
Company type	Television program
Industry	Television entertainment
Founded	July 13, 2003; 23 years ago
Fate	Original series ended; revival started in 2024
Headquarters	Australia
Key people	Andrew O'Keefe (original host), Grant Denyer (revival host)
Products	Game show

Deal or No Deal is an Australian game show that originally aired on the Seven Network from 13 July 2003 through 4 October 2013, with Andrew O'Keefe serving as host. A revival version debuted on Network 10 on 29 January 2024, hosted by Grant Denyer. This program was the first international adaptation of the original Dutch format and notably the initial version to adopt the Deal or No Deal title.

Over its broadcast history, the show underwent considerable changes, transitioning in 2004 from a weekly schedule to a daily format, which brought about a reduction in the grand prize from $2,000,000 to $200,000. It incorporated interactive segments such as "Double Deal Friday" aimed at home viewers and introduced additional gameplay features including "Double or Nothing" and "Super Case." The series also presented special episodes like hour-long prime-time editions and the popular Dancing with the Deals, which was associated with Dancing with the Stars.

No new installments were produced between October 2013 and September 2015; during this period, only reruns were broadcast. In March 2014, it was confirmed that no further episodes would be created. By August 2015, the Seven Network officially canceled the show, replacing it with the hour-long quiz program The Chase Australia.

In October 2023, Network 10 revealed plans to bring back the show in 2024 with Grant Denyer as host. The reboot is scheduled for weeknights at 6:00 pm following 10 News First and preceding The Project. On 30 June 2025, it was announced that the series would shift to a 7:00 pm timeslot. The updated format features a reduced number of briefcases—22 instead of the traditional 26—and offers a top prize of $100,000.

Preliminary rounds

The competition begins with an audience of 200 people divided into eight groups of 25. During the opening round, groups 1 through 4 form the red team while groups 5 through 8 make up the blue team. Contestants respond to three multiple-choice questions using keypads; each correct response earns one point for their respective team. The team accumulating the highest score advances, after which its four constituent groups compete individually over three questions. The group scoring highest proceeds to "the podium," and an additional player from the remaining groups is randomly selected to join.

At "the podium," contestants compete on an individual basis, scoring points equal to how many opponents answer incorrectly per question. In cases of tied scores, faster responses determine ranking. The two players with the highest totals after five questions move forward to "the Orb."

At "the Orb," finalists engage in a sudden death challenge where they must guess an answer based on up to six clues. Any incorrect or delayed answer results in immediate elimination and advancement of their opponent to the main game.

Main game (Deal or No Deal round)

The final contestant chooses one of 26 numbered briefcases containing various cash amounts (refer to Briefcase values and board layouts). Each of the other 25 participants holds one briefcase. The contestant then opens cases in successive rounds beginning with six cases in round one and decreasing by one case each subsequent round until only one case is opened per turn. After completing each round, "the Bank" makes an offer to purchase the contestant’s chosen case in order to prevent them from winning its value. The player may accept ("Deal") or reject ("No Deal") this offer and continue playing. If accepted, remaining cases are revealed to determine whether the deal was advantageous. Should play reach the final two unopened cases without accepting any deal, the contestant’s selected case is opened to reveal their prize.

When a briefcase is opened, its holder attempts to guess which remaining amount it contains; a correct prediction earns a cash reward that starts at $6,000 in round one and decreases to $1,000 in later rounds.

Daily format

The competition begins with 150 participants split into six groups of 25. One group is randomly selected, and alongside one contestant from each of the other groups, they face a preliminary quiz consisting of three multiple-choice questions. The quickest contestant with the highest number of correct answers progresses to the main game. This process was later modified to choose a single player while the remaining members of their group advance to the podium. The contestant then selects a case and eliminates others, earning a modest reward for correctly identifying the contents of their own case—$500 on Channel 7, $250 on Channel 10, or $500 during a Mega Guess.

As the game advances, depending on circumstances, the Bank may introduce special options (refer to Features).

History

Deal or No Deal traces its origins to the final round of a Dutch game show developed by Dick de Rijk for Endemol, which premiered on 22 December 2002. This concept was adapted from the German program that debuted in 2000. Following initial success, Endemol showcased the format at MipTV 2003 in Cannes, where Dutch host Linda de Mol presented it. On 23 June 2003, Australia's Seven Network announced Andrew O'Keefe as host. The inaugural Australian episode aired on 13 July 2003—the first international adaptation—coinciding with Argentina’s version.

The original Australian series was an hour-long Sunday night broadcast competing indirectly against Nine Network's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? by offering a top prize of AU$2 million. It featured a rolling format that allowed contestants who did not complete their game to return; notably, Nathan Cochrane won $515,000—the largest prize awarded on an Australian game show at that time.

On 2 February 2004, the program moved to a half-hour weekday slot at 5:30 pm, directly competing with Nine’s The Price Is Right. This schedule proved more effective due to airing five episodes per week. The top prize was reduced to $200,000 and participant numbers decreased from 200 to 150. The preliminary quiz was shortened, and podium players holding unchosen cases could win $1,000 (later reduced to $500) by correctly guessing their case's contents.

During the summer of 2004, hour-long primetime specials were broadcast on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm following the Athens Olympics hiatus, reinstating the $2 million top prize with an altered board setup. These specials included themes such as "Biggest Winners – Dream Team," "Conflict of the Couples," "Unluckiest Players," and "Test of the Psychics," incorporating preliminary quizzes or Orb rounds to select main game contestants. These events significantly increased ratings, boosting Seven News’ viewership and prompting Nine to cancel rival game shows like The Price Is Right and Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune. However, audience numbers later declined due to Millionaire Hot Seat.

Throughout its run, numerous gameplay adjustments occurred including changes in briefcase values and introduction of new features such as Super Case, Chance, Mega-Guess (debuted during the 2004 $12 Million Month), and Double or Nothing (introduced in 2006). In 2005, a car prize replaced the $25,000 cash reward; various Peugeot models valued over $30,000 were offered. The preliminary quiz was discontinued in 2007; Double Deal Friday ended in 2008.

Significant milestones include a special marking the 200th episode on 19 November 2004 and the 400th episode on 28 October 2005. The program reached its 1,000th episode on 8 September 2008 with a winning amount of $43,000.

Production halted in September 2013 as Seven introduced Million Dollar Minute, hosted by future Deal or No Deal presenter Grant Denyer. Between October 2013 and September 2015 only reruns aired at 5 pm. In March 2014 it was confirmed that no further episodes would be produced. In August 2015 Seven announced that both shows would be replaced by The Chase Australia.

In October 2023 Network 10 revealed plans for a revival in 2024 with Grant Denyer returning as host. The updated version will air weeknights at 6:00 pm following news broadcasts and leading into The Project, premiering on 29 January 2024 (originally scheduled for 5 February). On 9 July 2024, six hour-long primetime celebrity specials were announced for Monday nights starting on 22 July. Celebrities such as comedian Tom Gleeson and MasterChef judges Andy Allen and Sofia Levin will compete for charity prizes up to $250,000 using a board format reminiscent of the show's peak years (2006–2013), featuring values from $35,000 to $250,000.

Winners

On Channel 7's daily broadcast, four contestants have claimed the grand prize of $200,000, while Channel 10's edition has produced two winners of the $100,000 top prize as of June 2025. The Prime Time version's $2 million jackpot remained unclaimed; nonetheless, Nathan Cochrane accepted a deal worth $515,000. Unlike Channel 10, Channel 7 marked their top prize victories with celebratory confetti.

*Deal or No Deal* Top Prize Champions
Broadcast Date	Participant Name	Case Number
17 June 2004	Dean Cartechini	12
19 September 2007	Anh Do (Celebrity edition)	23
2 June 2010	Leanne Benbow	21
23 August 2011	Chris Doyle	9
26 February 2025	Zali Muscatello	9
30 June 2025	Sandra Sully (Celebrity edition)	10

Double Shot

The Double Shot specials introduced a unique twist by replacing the usual 50-cent case with a second $200,000 prize, directly challenging Millionaire Hot Seat airing simultaneously. Contestants who guessed their case contained $200,000 needed to identify whether it was the standard or Double Shot amount to avoid receiving an additional bonus attempt. Over the span of ten episodes, participants collectively secured $235,100 in winnings.

Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four segment premiered from 21 to 26 September 2009, featuring briefcases with elevated top values of $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000 in place of lower amounts (refer to Fantastic Four section below). During its first five episodes, contestants earned around $124,000 in total.

Following this initial run, Fantastic Four continued as separate specials throughout the year, with the total prize money awarded reaching $914,401. Except for the inaugural year of 2009, the highest prize increased from $200,000 to $250,000.

Original Series (Andrew O'Keefe)

2003 (Season 1)

Amount
$0.05	$1,000
$0.25	$2,500
$0.50	$5,000
$0.75	$7,500
$1	$10,000
$5	$25,000
$10	$50,000
$25	$75,000
$50	$100,000
$75	$250,000
$100	$500,000
$250	$1,000,000
$500	$2,000,000

2004 (Season 2)

Amount
$0.50	$1,000
$1	$1,500
$2	$2,000
$5	$3,000
$10	$5,000
$25	$7,500
$50	$10,000
$75	$15,000
$100	$25,000
$150	$50,000
$250	$75,000
$500	$100,000
$750	$200,000

Primetime Specials (A) 2004

Amount
$0.50	$1,000
$1	$2,500
$2	$5,000
$5	$7,500
$10	$10,000
$25	$25,000
$50	$50,000
$75	$75,000
$100	$100,000
$200	$250,000
$300	$500 , 000
$500	$1 , 000 , 000
$750	$2 , 000 , 000

Primetime Specials (B) 2004

Amount
'$0 .50'	'$1 , 000'
'$1'	'$2 , 500'
'$2'	'$5 , 000'
'$5'	'$7 , 500'
'$10'	'$10 , 000'
'$25'	'$25 , 000'
'$50'	'$50 , 000'
'$75'	'$75 , 000'
'$100'	'$100 , 000'
'$200'	'$250 , 000'
'$250'	'$500 , 000'
'$500'	'$1 , 000 , 000'
'$750'	'$2 , 000 , 000'

200th Episode (19 November 2004)

Amount
$0 .50 ' '	' $1 , 000 ' '
' $1 ' '	' $2 , 000 ' '
' $2 ' '	' $3 , 000 ' '
' $5 ' '	' $5 , 000 ' '
' $10 ' '	' $7 ,500 ' '
' $25 ' '	' $10 , 000 ' '
' $50 ' '	' $15 , 000 ' '
' $75 ' '	' $25 , 000 ' '
' $100 ' '	' $50 , 000 ' '
' $150 ' '	' $75 , 000 ' '
' $250 ' '	' $100 , 000 ' '
' $500 ' '	' $200 , 000 ' '
"" "$750""	"" "$200 , 0"""

2005 (Season 3)

'Amount'
'$$0.50'	'$$1.0$$0'
'$$1'	'$$1.5$$0'
'$$2'	'$$2.0$$0'
'$$5'	'$$3.0$$0'
'$$10'	'$$5.0$$0'
'$$25'	'$$7.5$$0'

Revival Series (Grant Denyer)

2024– (S12–)

Prize Amounts
50c	$1,000
$1	$2,500
$5	$5,000
$10	$7,500
$25	$10,000
$50	$20,000
$75	$30,000
$100	$40,000
$250	$50,000
$500	$75,000
$750	$100,000

Celebrity Jackpot (Primetime)

Prize Amounts
50c	$1,000
$1	$2,000
$2	$3,000
$5	$4,000
$10	$5,000
$20	$10,000
$50	$15,000
$100	$20,000
$150	$35,000
$200	$50,000
$250	$75,000
$500	$100,000
$750	$250,000

Features

Deal or No Deal has incorporated several unique elements over its run aimed at boosting excitement during the final stages of the game.

Daily Prize

The Daily Prize was launched in 2004 to grant a $500 reward to the contestant holding a briefcase adorned with gold stars—excluding those containing the CAR or top-tier amounts. Although this feature was phased out as a regular segment in 2006, it has made appearances during special themed episodes and end-of-year specials.

Super Case

Debuting in 2004, the Super Case is an additional endgame element that unveils a large prop case containing cash values ranging from 50 cents up to $50,000—or up to $30,000 on #Double Deal Friday. It generally emerges when a participant accepts a deal near the $10,000 mark with at least five cases still unopened. This setup offers approximately an even chance to equal or surpass the deal since half of the possible amounts are $10,000 or higher. In 2006, the notification for the Super Case shifted from a prominent top-screen display to a smaller icon positioned beside the “Cases remaining” counter until it is triggered.

Chance

Introduced in 2004, the Chance option permits contestants to revoke their accepted deal and instead claim the amount contained within their own case. This opportunity is infrequently presented, typically when the final two remaining board values consist of a low figure alongside one valued at $5,000 or more. For instance, if a player has accepted $6,500 but the last amounts are $750 and $10,000, the Chance may be offered. Choosing to accept it results in winning the case amount; rejecting it means retaining the original deal.

Mega–Guess

Debuting during the $12 Million Month of 2004, Mega-Guess enhances bonus rewards for podium contestants who accurately predict their case contents. Since 2006, it has included three variants: $2,000 (Blue), $5,000 (Maroon), and $10,000 (Green), with the $5,000 prize being the most frequently awarded and occasionally appearing multiple times within a single episode. The $10,000 prize typically appears early in the game, while the $2,000 bonus is commonly granted for birthdays or players from outside Victoria. Mega-Guess often involves participation from friends or family members of the main contestant and has evolved into a playful segment where contestants or hosts appeal to the unseen banker.

Originally set at a fixed $10,000 reward, the prize was lowered to $5,000 in 2005. A special $25,000 Mega-Guess was offered upon opening the 25,000th case in the show's history but remained unclaimed. The 2024 version features a consistent $500 Mega-Guess prize.

Double Deal Friday

Launched in 2005, Double Deal Friday enabled viewers to participate via premium-rate phone lines for a chance to win identical prizes as that week’s studio contestant. A related format called Dancing with the Deals incorporated Dancing with the Stars participants but awarded prizes exclusively to home viewers. Double Deal Friday concluded its run in 2008.

Double or Nothing

Introduced in 2006, Double or Nothing is an endgame option allowing players to risk their entire deal amount for a chance to double their winnings or lose everything. Initially featuring a single large case where players could choose how much of their deal to wager, by 2007 wagering the full deal amount became compulsory.

Risk It All

Starting in 2010, Risk It All is aimed at contestants who accepted deals below $10,000 when only two smaller amounts remain on the board. Players must correctly guess which amount is inside their case to win $15,000; an incorrect guess results in forfeiting the entire deal.

Switch Case

Also introduced in 2010, Switch Case gives the banker an opportunity mid-game to offer players the option to exchange their briefcase for any unopened one on stage, adding a strategic element to gameplay.

Dash for Cash

Added in 2013, Dash for Cash presents contestants with an immediate cash offer approximately half of the current highest remaining prize when that top value is $5,000 or less. Accepting this offer ends the game instantly without further case eliminations.

Second Chance

This feature from 2013 allows players to replace their current accepted deal with one of their previous offers chosen at random. When activated, a "Dealette" model appears with a confirmation button for the contestant to finalize their choice.

Quick Cash

In the 2024 revival, Quick Cash randomly grants players cash prizes when they manage to impress either the audience or the Banker during the course of the game.

Consolation Prize

Debuting in 2024, this feature provides a $250 award to contestants who performed admirably but ended up with less than $50 due to unfortunate luck or sympathetic circumstances.

Steal the Deal

Launched in January 2025, Steal the Deal gives players, at the conclusion of the game when activated, the chance to relinquish their current winnings and choose from eleven new briefcases containing amounts ranging between 25¢ and $50,000:

Amount
25c	$1,000
$5	$5,000
$25	$7,500
$50	$15,000
$250	$50,000
$500

In popular culture

Andrew O'Keefe made a guest appearance as himself in an episode of the Australian comedy series Kath & Kim, reprising his role as host of Deal or No Deal. In this episode, Sharon Strzelecki (played by Magda Szubanski) was the primary contestant, accompanied by Kim Craig (Gina Riley) as her podium partner. Sharon secured a $20,000 prize from her chosen case (although footage of this win is not shown). The gameplay featured slight variations from the actual show: Kim did not attempt to guess her case's value prior to opening it, and Sharon became the main contestant by having the "fastest fingers," reflecting changes introduced in the 2007 season. O'Keefe also humorously referred to the show's timeslot by mentioning it was "almost news time," alluding to the Seven News 6pm broadcast that followed.

Products

The Deal or No Deal brand has spawned various merchandise including a board game, a Nintendo DS video game, an electronic game, and a DVD game.

The board game, created by Crown and Andrews, mirrors the 2004 season setup with 26 briefcases, a game board displaying amounts, covers, host and contestant cards, amount cards, instructions, and play money. A subsequent edition incorporates updates from later seasons.

Developed by Gravity-i and published by Mindscape, the Nintendo DS video game showcases Andrew O'Keefe on its cover. It utilizes the same engine as the UK version but modifies features to correspond with the Australian edition, such as substituting British boxes for gold briefcases.

External links