Head into an RSL or pub on Thursday and you’ll likely hear loud cries of “come in spinner”.
The yells will be coming from punters locked in an intense match of two-up, an Australian gambling game that is played on Anzac Day and is illegal across most of the country most other days of the year.
After Australians commemorate those who have served and died in military operations on Thursday, some will head to their local RSL or pub to have a go at the coin tossing game.
Two-up was played by Australian soldiers during the First World War, and has since become an Anzac Day tradition.
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The game is illegal in venues across most of the country on most days except Anzac Day - which falls on 25 April each year - but the exact rules depend on the state or territory you are in.
For example, in Victoria, two-up is only legal on Anzac Day or during commemorative functions in the seven days leading up to Anzac Day at RSL clubs, subbranches and venues used by the RSL, according to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s website.
In most parts of New South Wales, the game is generally legal on Anzac Day, Victory in the Pacific Day (15 August) and Remembrance Day (11 November).
The only exception to this is in Broken Hill, where the game can be played all year round under a special licence from the NSW Government.
How to play:
There are several variations on how to play the game, so it’s best to double check the rules before getting involved.
Generally, a match manager known as a “ringkeeper” or “ringie” will select a person to be the “spinner”.
The spinner will stand in the ring, which is a designated circle in the venue in which only the spinner is allowed.
The spinner will place two pennies on a wooden bat, known as a “kip”.
Someone will yell “come in spinner” and on that cue, the spinner will toss both pennies up in the air.
They must land within the boundaries of the ring.
Before the coins are tossed, the spinner or other punters will select an amount of money to bet on and find someone in the crowd to match their bet, with one betting on both coins landing heads up, and the other betting on both coins landing tails up.
The spinner will continue to toss the pennies until both land either tails up or heads up.
The ringie will call the result.
The ringie’s decision is final and the winner takes all.
Remember to gamble responsibly.