2UP Game

Only on April 25 is it legal to play 2UP Game in the “Land down under” and to say they play it is an understatement. Pass any pub and you will hear the boisterous sounds that are generated by the game. April 25, known as Anzac Day, is a day of remembrance for all those who served in war so hordes of locals head to veteran parades in the morning and then to the pub in the afternoon. It’s tradition!

No one knows for sure how the 2UP Game really started but it became a hit in Australia's goldfields around the 1850s. It became even more popular among those serving in World War I. Aussie soldiers who returned home continue to play the game even though it was illegal if the venue received any profit from the game or charged an entry fee, or if anyone under the age of 18 played. Many pubs will have a game organized, as well as Returned Services League clubs and sporting venues around the country. It gradually became a government-sanctioned part of Anzac Day celebrations, played by ex-servicemen and civilians alike.

The 2UP Game is a more intricate version of heads or tails. Two coins are placed tails up on a flat board called a "kip" or a paddle and players gather around in a circle. The "ring-keeper" calls "come in spinner" to signal the coins are to be tossed into the air by another person, who is called the "spinner." The winner needs to see both coins land on either heads or tails. If the coins don’t match or fall outside of the ring then there is a replay.

This is where the betting comes in. All you need to do is announce if you are betting on heads or tails and how much you’re betting. The person you're betting against needs to bet the same amount as you, but on the opposite result. Guess heads or tails correctly, and you take the other person's money. Aussie players swear the game is a hoot!