The Laws of Two-Up on ANZAC Day

“Come in spinner” is the beloved phrase heard while playing two-up.

The game of two-up is a memorable and traditional Australian gambling game. Two-up involves a designated spinner throwing two or three coins into the air and punters placing bets on either heads or tails.

The popularity of two-up is due to the game being extensively played by Australian soldiers during World War 1. Two-up is illegal on every day of the year except for ANZAC day.

In New South Wales, two-up is legislated by the Gambling (two-up) Act 1998. The act states the following:

1. Two-up can only be played on ANZAC day and any other designated commemorative days (which cannot include any part of 11 November before 12 noon on that day).
2. Two-up games are played on a not for profit basis.
3. If two-up is played in a club, the club is not permitted to charge an entry fee on that day.
4. Any clubs that host games of two-up must donate all proceeds to a charity or a charitable cause.

It is interesting to know that section 9 of the Gambling (two-up) Act permits certain areas in Broken Hill to hold two-up games on days other than ANZAC day on the basis that it is council run or the council has approved the venue.

The reason that Broken Hill is exempt from these restrictions is due to the fact that the game was run in a popular café until 1984 when it was forced to stop running games. The act allows Broken Hill to host two-up games as long as certain provisions are met.

ANZAC day is a day of remembrance and two-up holds a special place in the day as part of Australian tradition.

This is not legal advice.