On Anzac Day each year, Australians gather to play two-up, a coin-toss gambling game that was once a staple in the trenches of World War One but is now legally permitted only on 25 April across the country.
The game, which involves betting on how two coins will land when tossed into the air, was popular among Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers during the Gallipoli campaign and subsequent Western Front deployments. Historical accounts describe soldiers using makeshift kips — small pieces of wood — to spin the pennies, often wagering tobacco, food rations or small sums of money during brief respites from combat.
Although two-up was widely played informally during the war, it remained illegal under Australian gambling laws for much of the 20th century. Over time, state and territory governments introduced specific exemptions to allow the game on Anzac Day as a tribute to the soldiers who played it during wartime.
Today, the game is legally sanctioned in every Australian state and territory on 25 April, with licensed venues such as Returned and Services League (RSL) clubs, hotels and casinos permitted to host two-up sessions under strict regulatory conditions. These typically include limits on betting amounts, requirements for licensed operators and prohibitions on minors participating.
Outside of Anzac Day, playing two-up for money remains a criminal offence in all jurisdictions, with penalties ranging from fines to potential imprisonment depending on the state or territory. Authorities maintain that the annual exemption is a narrowly defined cultural concession, not a relaxation of broader gambling prohibitions.
Each year, thousands of Australians participate in two-up games at dawn services, suburban clubs and major city venues, with the activity often forming part of broader Anzac Day commemorations that include marches, memorial services and moments of silence. The game’s enduring presence reflects its symbolic connection to the ANZAC experience, even as its legal status remains tightly circumscribed.
Regulatory bodies continue to monitor compliance with the annual exemption, emphasizing that any deviation from the approved conditions — such as playing outside the designated time or without proper authorization — remains subject to enforcement under existing gambling legislation.
