The rules of two-up and where you can play
The nation will come together tomorrow for Anzac Day to commemorate servicemen and women who served and died in all wars and conflicts.
While some salute them by attending dawn services and parades, others will pack out RSLs and pubs to play two-up.
The national game dates back to WWI, a time when diggers passed the time by playing the “heads and tails” betting game.
It is an activity commonly played on Anzac Day, with the game illegal most of the year due to it being an unregulated form of gambling.
How do you play?
The game focuses around a “spinner” — the person who’s responsible for tossing the coins into the air.
According to Dee Why RSL, the spinner places a cash bet on heads while someone else has to go against them by matching the bet and backing tails, also known as “odds”.
The spinner holds the cash and if they win, they take it all. If tails wins, the spinner has to hand over the cash.
If two coins land heads side up, the spinner wins. But if two coins show tails, the spinner loses.
The RSL says to win, a spinner must flip three successive heads but will lose if they throw five successive odds first.
A combination like heads, odds, odds, heads, heads would mean the spinner is the winner.
If the combination was instead odds, odds, heads, odds, heads, odds, odds, the other person would win as five tails showed up before three heads.
If the spinner loses, they must abdicate and let somebody else become the spinner.
Where can you play?
RSL clubs across the country hold two-up events including the popular North Bondi RSL Club.
The Burwood RSL and Five Dock RSL in Sydney’s inner-west will hold events from 1pm, but those wanting to get an early start can play from midday at the Vic On The Park in Marrickville and The Erko in Erskineville.
Some popular Merivale pubs in Sydney will also hold events, including The Beresford, The Newport and Coogee Pavilion.
In Melbourne, punters can play two-up at a number of licenced venues including The Mail Exchange Hotel, the Palace Hotel and Prahan RSL.
In Brisbane, popular two-up venues include the Stock Exchange Hotel, The Regatta Hotel and the Fox Hotel.
Why is it illegal to play on every other day?
It is illegal to play two-up on any other day of the year, with a few exceptions.
On the University of Technology Sydney website, criminal law lecturer Lesley Townsley said two-up wasn’t even allowed to be played in NSW until 1989.
Victoria then legalised the game on Anzac Day only in 1991.
The game was illegal due to it being an unregulated form of gambling and Ms Townsley wrote “its illegality roughly coincided with the temperance movement in the early 20th century”.
“Drinking alcohol and gambling which took money away from women and children was seen as morally bad and the laws soon reflected that,” she said.
Despite two-up being allowed on Anzac Day, organisers are not allowed to profit from the game and must donate all proceeds.
In NSW, two-up can also be played on Victory of the Pacific Day on August 15 and Remembrance Day on November 11.
In Victoria, all two-up venues must be approved by the Minister for Gaming.
Anybody with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online.
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