How To Play Two-Up: The All-Australian ANZAC Day Tradition

It’s that time of the year again, when the long-awaited Easter break is right around the corner, and ANZAC Day (April 25th) not too far behind. And while both public holidays ultimately commemorate sacrifice, it’s socially and legally acceptable to gamble during the latter. Here’s your definitive guide (or much-needed refresher) on how to play two-up.

How To Play Two-Up

Born in the goldfields of 19th-century Australia from cross and pile, and immortalised by the diggers of World War I, two-up is a game that’s practically stitched into the DNA of our proud sunburnt nation.

Miners and immigrants first tossed pennies to pass the time and win a few shillings, but it was the brave soldiers – exhausted, homesick, and clinging to any semblance of normalcy – who made it a legend. From those muddy trenches on foreign shores, two-up became a lifeline, a ritual, and a reminder of what they were fighting for: true blue freedom.

The quick and dirty of Australia’s beloved gambling tradition, enjoyed in RSL clubs and pubs on ANZAC Day, is as follows.

1. A ringkeeper or “ringie” – who impartially officiates the game – places two coins tail side up on a wooden paddle or “kip.” The coins are often pennies from before 1939 and sometimes marked by a white cross for crowd visibility.
2. A person known as the “spinner” answers the call (“come in, spinner!”) and is handed the kip. Their job is to toss the coins up into the air – at least three metres and without touching the ceiling, before they fall back into the “ring” unobstructed. Most crucially, the coins must spin.
3. But before this can happen, two players enter the ring and place their bets: “heads” (both coins land heads up) or “tails” (both coins land tails up). “Odds” (one head, one tail) is a no-result. The crowd, referred to as the “school,” also makes side bets amongst themselves at this stage.
4. The spinner also has skin in the game – placing money with the “boxer,” another impartial party who holds the cash and ensures everyone gets paid (doesn’t bet but can take commission). A spinner’s bet is made once someone from the school covers an equivalent amount on tails.
5. Calling it correctly obviously earns players the goods. As an additional twist, if the spinner lands two heads, they win and get to toss again. If it’s two tails, they lose and surrender the kip to a new spinner selected from the school in a clockwise motion. Given that it’s a no-result, odds simply mean they get to spin again.
6. With every successive victory, the spinner’s bet is doubled and funded by the boxer, who finds willing participants to cover the tail-end bet. Naturally, this pot can swell to juicy proportions depending on hot streaks and such.

All bets are made between players – no house cut, no casino gleam – just gloriously honest punter versus punter action sealed by a handshake.

NOTE: Some venues use three coins to avoid “odds” completely and put on a faster-paced game.

Additional Two-Up Rules

• Cash only.
• Both coins must spin (if they don’t, it’s a re-spin).
• Centre monies must be set in full before any side bets are made.
• Only the spinner is allowed within the boundaries of the ring during play.
• Only the spinner touches the coins, so no sticky fingers.
• If one or both coins fall outside the ring, the ringer declares the game void, and the spinner has to go again. It’s the same deal if any coins hit a person, foreign object, or ceiling.
• The spinner cannot take a dividend or withdraw from the centre before three consecutive heads are thrown within an innings (unless they lose, of course).
• If three consecutive odds are thrown, venues may “punish” the spinner at their own discretion, e.g. 10 push-ups.
• The boxer and ringkeeper’s decisions are final.
• Nobody under the age of 18 is allowed (it’s still gambling, after all).
• And as a guiding principle, no dickheads allowed.

Now get out there and honour the diggers by taking home some poor schmuck’s cash.

When (And Where) Can You Play Two-Up?

Generally, two-up is only legally permitted on ANZAC Day (April 25th) unless you find yourselves in a licensed casino or during certain special events. In New South Wales, for example, certain venues can also host two-up on Victory in the Pacific Day and Remembrance Day. But ANZAC Day remains a national constant.

As for where, there’s simply no better place to experience it than an RSL club or your local pub – the crowd alive, beer flowing, and the truest form of equality before statistics and the coin.

Check out how different states govern two-up below.

• New South Wales
  As the most relaxed state, like we said before, two-up is kosher on three key days: ANZAC Day, Victory in the Pacific Day (August 15th), and Remembrance Day (November 11th) after midday. Anyone can play two-up as “Social Entertainment”, but only registered clubs can play two-up as a fundraiser, according to Liquor and Gaming NSW.
• Victoria
  Permitted at RSL clubs, sub-branches, or any venue used by the RSL on ANZAC Day or during commemorative functions in the week leading up to ANZAC Day.
• Queensland
  Permitted at an RSL, Services Club, or Licensed Premises with written permission from an RSL sub-branch as long as it’s part of an official ANZAC Day function or another legally designated day of remembrance of the sacrifice of ex-servicemen and women, according to the Queensland Government.
• South Australia
  Permitted on ANZAC Day, but only on the premises of a branch or sub-branch of the Returned Services League and any premises owned or occupied by the Defence Forces of Australia, according to South Australia Lottery and Gaming.
• Western Australia
  Where NSW is the most relaxed, WA is the strictest when it comes to two-up laws. Even on ANZAC Day, clubs must apply for a two-up permit by writing in a form supplied by the Commission to the Department of Local Government, Sport, & Cultural Industries. Throughout the calendar year, you’ll even need permission from Crown Perth if you’re within a 100-kilometre radius of the casino on any day except ANZAC Day (at which point you’ll need to ask the Minister for Racing & Gaming).
• Tasmania
  Permitted on ANZAC Day between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and only at premises permanently occupied by an organisation where the majority of members are former members of the defence forces (RSL clubs), according to Tasmania Liquor and Gaming.
• ACT
  Permitted on ANZAC Day as long as there’s no charge, commission, or fee (except where the charge, commission, or fee is to raise funds for charity), according to Gambling and Racing ACT.
• Northern Territory
  Permitted on ANZAC Day at RSL clubs.

Two-Up Glossary