Every year on 25 April, Australians gather to mark Anzac Day. It is a time for remembrance, honouring those who served and died in wars and conflicts.
But once the dawn services and marches are complete, another tradition takes over in pubs and Returned and Services League (RSL) clubs across the country: the game of Two up.
For many, it’s not Anzac Day without the sound of coins spinning in the air and a crowd shouting “Come in spinner!”
Two-up is more than just a gambling game. It is a piece of Australian culture, tied closely to the nation’s military history and the mateship that has long been seen as central to the Anzac spirit.
To understand why it matters so much, you need to know where it came from, how it’s played, and why it’s only legally allowed on this one day of the year.
What is Two Up?
Two up is a simple betting game played with coins. At its heart, it involves nothing more than tossing two coins into the air and betting on how they will land. Players choose between heads, tails, or odds (one of each).
The person in charge of tossing the coins is called the spinner, and they use a small flat wooden paddle known as a kip to launch them.
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The rules are straightforward. If both coins land heads up, those who backed heads win. If both are tails, those who backed tails collect. If the coins are split, the odds bet wins.
Because the outcome is purely random, it’s one of the simplest forms of gambling you’ll ever find — there’s no skill, no strategy, just the luck of the toss.
Spinner, Boxer and Ringie: The Roles in Two-up
Although Two-up looks simple, with just two coins and a wooden kip, the game actually has its own structure and a few important roles.
The spinner is the player who tosses the coins. They place two coins on the kip, flip them into the air, and wait for the result.
The spinner’s turn continues as long as they keep winning on the outcome they’ve backed. If they lose, they hand the kip to someone else. This creates a little side contest between the spinner and the boxer.
The boxer can be thought of as the house. In a traditional setting, the boxer manages the money and makes sure the spinner puts down a stake before tossing.
The spinner is effectively betting against the boxer each time, while the rest of the crowd places their own side wagers on heads, tails, or odds. It’s a test of endurance for the spinner — every win means another chance to throw, while one loss ends their run.
Overseeing it all is the ringie. This is the person who runs the ring, calls for bets, and shouts “Come in, spinner!” before each toss. The ringie also steps in to settle any disputes, makes sure the coins are thrown properly, and keeps order when the crowd gets noisy.
Together, these roles give Two-up more depth than it first appears.
A Game Born in the Bush
Two-up’s exact origins are debated, but most historians agree it was first played in the Australian bush during the 19th century.
The goldfields of New South Wales and Victoria provided fertile ground for gambling games, and immigrants from Ireland and England are thought to have introduced early versions.
Back then, games of chance were a popular way to pass the time, and miners often gambled away their winnings in makeshift camps. 2up quickly caught on because of its simplicity.
All it required was a couple of pennies and a flat piece of wood. It became a familiar sight at country fairs, shearing sheds, and outback gatherings.
But it was during the First World War that Two up cemented itself as part of Australian identity.
Two Up in the Trenches
When Australian soldiers — the original Anzacs — headed overseas in 1914, they took Two-up with them. In the muddy trenches of Gallipoli and on the battlefields of Europe, it became a favourite pastime.
For soldiers, the game was more than a way to gamble. It was a release from the horrors of war, a chance to bond with mates, and a reminder of home.
It required no equipment that couldn’t be found in camp, and the rules were easy for everyone to understand.
Stories abound of soldiers tossing coins on makeshift kips between battles, with entire groups of diggers gathering around to cheer and shout at the results.
Two up became so strongly associated with the Anzacs that it remained part of military life well into the Second World War and beyond. It was played in barracks, on troopships, and in prisoner-of-war camps.
Why Anzac Day?
After the wars, many veterans kept the tradition alive. Returned servicemen would gather on Anzac Day, first and foremost to remember fallen comrades, but also to celebrate the sense of brotherhood they had built in service. Two up became part of that ritual.
In most states, gambling laws meant Two-up was illegal in everyday life. It was viewed as a game that could lead to exploitation if played in back alleys or unregulated venues. But Anzac Day was different. Authorities recognised the cultural significance of the game for veterans, and over time special exemptions were made.
Today, the game is legal on Anzac Day in pubs, clubs, and RSL venues across Australia. The exemption is a nod to the tradition that stretches back more than a century.
While you might find the odd tourist town hosting games on other public holidays, Anzac Day remains the one date when it’s truly celebrated nationwide.
How Two Up is Played on Anzac Day
If you walk into any pub or RSL club on 25 April, you’ll find a crowd gathered in a circle, with a small patch in the middle reserved for the spinner. The “ringie” — the person running the game — calls out for bets and ensures the rules are followed.
The spinner places two coins on the kip and flips them into the air. Everyone holds their breath as they land. Then comes the roar of the crowd: cheers from the winners, groans from the losers, and calls for the next round.
What makes it special is the atmosphere. Unlike casino gambling, Two-up on Anzac Day is about community. Strangers stand shoulder to shoulder, swapping banter and stories, raising a glass to the past and the mates who never made it home.
It’s less about the money won or lost and more about being part of a tradition that links generations.
A Cultural Symbol
Two up has become more than a game. It is now a cultural symbol, woven into the story of Anzac Day itself. It reflects the values Australians often associate with their soldiers: mateship, larrikin humour, and resilience in the face of hardship.
It also carries a sense of nostalgia. For older generations, it brings back memories of parents or grandparents who served. For younger Australians, it’s a way to connect with history in a more tangible way than ceremonies alone can provide.
Even the language of the game — phrases like “Come in spinner!” — has seeped into Australian slang.
2up Today
While the game is still only legally played on Anzac Day in most places, its cultural significance means it has not faded. In fact, in the era of electronic gaming machines and online betting, its simplicity stands out.
There’s no house edge, no complex odds, and no technology. Just two coins, a wooden kip, and a crowd. That may be why it has endured: it strips gambling back to its most basic form and wraps it in a uniquely Australian story.
For tourists, playing Two-up on Anzac Day has become a rite of passage, offering a way to engage with Australian culture beyond the usual sightseeing. For veterans and their families, it remains a heartfelt tradition.
Keeping the Tradition Alive
Two-up is one of those rare traditions that has moved from the outback to the battlefield, and from there into the national calendar.
On Anzac Day, it provides a bridge between remembrance and celebration, a reminder that those who fought were also men who laughed, cheered, and flipped coins to pass the time.
To play Two up on Anzac Day is to take part in something that reaches back more than a century. It is not about winning or losing but about honour, mateship, and shared memory. As long as Australians gather on 25 April, it seems certain that Two-up will remain part of the day.
