Anzac Day Australia: Crowds pack pubs and clubs to play two-up

Australians across the country filled pubs and clubs to play the traditional game of two, following a morning of morning services and solemn Anzac Day ceremonies.

The uniquely Australian gambling game made famous by diggers during World War I is banned year-round, with the exception of April 25 – and other special occasions – as a way to honor the country’s fallen soldiers.

During the bank holiday on Tuesday, huge crowds poured in from the moment they opened at 9am, with gamblers in high spirits enjoying the sun.

Among the action and heading to their local were some of Australia’s most famous faces, including Today presenters Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo, who performed at the Greenwood Hotel in North Sydney.

The venues were packed to capacity by noon with Sydney pubs, such as the Royal in Randwick, which had to operate a ‘one-in-one-out’ policy, with wait times stretching into the afternoon.

Today’s show’s Sarah Abo joins in the Anzac Day festivities, with a game of two-up

Gamblers are pictured closely observing a game of two-up at the Clovelly Hotel in eastern Sydney

On Tuesday, April 25, a woman is seen taking bets on a game of two-up on Anzac Day

A large crowd plays two-up during Anzac Day at Harbord Diggers in Freshwater on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Large crowds enjoyed live music at The Rocks, Sydney

Gamblers enjoyed outdoor entertainment for two as the afternoon wore on at The Rocks

Large crowds poured into the halls, including Harbord Diggers in Sydney Freshwater.

The diggers club was one of several across the country to hold two-up games.

NSW Police said they were ‘pleased with the behavior of the crowds attending the Anzac Day march and memorial ceremonies across Sydney’.

“Every year we come together as a community to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, past and present, and that is exactly what Sydney did today,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott Whyte.

He continued, “More than 7,000 attended the Dawn Service and more than 11,500 marched.

“It has been wonderful to see the Anzac spirit displayed with crowds cheering veterans, their families and community members in marches that have been both safe and successful.”

While in Brisbane people gathered at the Story Bridge Hotel on Kangaroo Point to try their luck at two-up.

Crowds play a game of two-up at the Story Bridge Hotel on Kangaroo Point on ANZAC Day in Brisbane

Multitudes of people tried their luck at the game reserved for ANZAC Day only

All eyes are on the prize as gamblers wait to see how the final toss of Sydney’s two-up coins plays out

A huge crowd gathered by the sea at the Harbord Diggers club in the Sydney suburb of Freshwater

Pictured is an MC carefully watching a game of two-up in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday

Two-up explained: how to play

Two cents are used to play two-up. The tails are often marked with white crosses

These rules can be used to regulate the playing of Two-up, but are not required.

The ringkeeper’s decision is final

The ring holder will select a spinner by offering the chicken clockwise around the ring and will hand the chicken to the first person to accept it

There will be two sets of seven pennies held by the ring guard. The spinner chooses two pennies from one of the sets, which are tossed into the ring by the ringkeeper

Only two cents may be used

The exchange of pennies is at the discretion of the ringkeeper

The tail side of pennies is marked with a white cross

The spinner will place penny tails on the chicken

The spinner chooses two other tokens from the remaining five of the set after rolling three consecutive pairs of heads. The ringkeeper keeps the winning two cents and tosses the balance of the set to the spinner to make the selection

The spinner cannot receive a dividend until three consecutive heads are rolled

In case the spinner throws tails, the spinner loses the total of the moneys in the middle and the right to spin

The ringkeeper will void a spin by announcing ‘no spin’ or ‘barred’

The center’s money is fully established before any side bets can be made

Only the spinner may be within the confines of the ring during play

A spinner may retire from the center after throwing three consecutive pairs of heads

No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the part of the Two-up ground where the game is being held while the game is being directed and played

Inappropriate behavior or offensive language will not be tolerated

The spinner will give the ring keeper the amount of money the spinner wishes to spin for, the ring keeper will keep that money and the equivalent amount from a tail gambler to cover the bet

Source: Booze and Gaming NSW