Australians flock to pubs to play two-up on Anzac Day

News.com.au

25-04-2025

Aussies have flocked to pubs across the country to play the traditional gambling game, two-up, on Anzac Day.
The game is strictly illegal in Australia with the exception of Anzac Day.
While there's evidence the game was played by convicts in the 18th and 19th centuries, the coin tossing game is best-associated with Anzac Day.
The game was played by officers during the First World War, and became an increasingly popular pastime for the men in the trenches.
While it's remained a much-loved tradition across RSLs, the game is illegal to play across the country for most of the year, with the only exception being Anzac Day.
However, these rules vary depending on the state you live in.
The game involves a 'spinner' tossing pennies into the air.
The crowd and the spinner then bets on whether they will land as two heads, two tails or one of each, the latter of which is referred to as 'odds'.
Matches of the traditional game have officially kicked off this Anzac Day.
Two-up players and punters alike were spotted at The Palace Hotel in South Melbourne on Friday afternoon.
Pictures captured pennies being thrown up in the air as bystanders shook hands and placed bets.
While onlookers are generally only able to bet on heads or tails, some venues may allow people to bet on odds.
Dutton booed after playing two-up
Peter Dutton was booed at a bustling Townsville RSL stacked to the brim with ineberontiated punters, but not for his politics.
The Opposition Leader landed in the country's biggest garrison town after attending The Dawn Service on Anzac Day in Brisbane.
Shortly after 1pm on Friday Mr Dutton played a few rounds of two-up before making his way back through the crowd, who chanted for him to do a shoey.
The Coalition leader declined, of course, to jeers of the crowd, but was likely to have to won back their favour when he got behind the bar.
Mr Dutton briefly poured Great Northern Super Crisp Lager for the rowdy crowd.
RSL scraps traditional game
North Bondi RSL decided to scrap the game this Anzac Day following requests from veteran members.
The decision was slammed as 'un-Australian' by some, however Waverley Council Bondi Ward Councillor Margaret Merten said she believed the club 'made the right call'.
'There are plenty of other places in Bondi that are hosting two-up games, and anyone who wants to go along and play will have lots of choice,' Ms Merten told NewsWire.
How do you play two-up?
Two-up, like other coin tossing games, is relatively simple to play, however, the rules may vary depending on where you live.
Generally speaking, the ringkeeper — known as a 'ringie' — selects a player or 'spinner' to enter the game, usually by calling out, 'Come in, spinner!'
The spinner will stand in the ring — a designated circle in the venue where only the spinner is allowed to stand — and hold a wooden bat, known as a 'kip' with two pennies on it.
Traditionally, the game is played with pennies, as they offer the perfect weight and size ratio for easier spinning and landing.
The spinner will toss the coins in the air — at least three metres — and the crowd has to bet on the way the coins will land.
There are three possible outcomes: two heads, two tails or one of each, known as 'odds', with the spinner placing a bet on a particular outcome, and the crowd betting on the other.
The coins must be thrown at least 3m into the air and have to fall within the boundaries of the circle to be accepted in the game.
Those watching can only bet on either heads or tails, though some venues allow bets on odds, and the outcome of the game is determined by the ringie.
The ringie's decision is final and the winner takes their earnings.