Two up rules: how to play, the odds and when it is legal

Key facts

Two-up is played by tossing two coins from a wooden bat called a kip. Two heads is heads, two tails is tails, and one of each (odds) decides nothing.
Each toss is heads 25% of the time, tails 25% and odds 50%, so every result that counts is a 50/50.
Under NSW's model rules the spinner cannot take a dividend until throwing three heads in a row, a 1 in 8 chance, and throwing tails loses the centre money.
In NSW two-up is legal only on Anzac Day (25 April), 15 August and after 12 noon on 11 November, plus all year in Broken Hill.
In social games no commission can be taken, so all the money goes back to players. In WA a permitted game may take a customary commission of up to 10% on certain winnings.

Two up rules in a minute

Two-up is a gambling game played with two coins. A player called the spinner tosses them from a flat wooden bat, the kip, high into a marked ring. When they land:

How the coins land	Called	What happens
Both heads	Heads	Heads bets win
Both tails	Tails	Tails bets win; the spinner loses the centre
One head, one tail	Odds	Nothing is decided; toss again

Players usually bet against each other, heads against tails, at even money. A ringkeeper runs the game, holds the spinner's money and decides any dispute.

The NSW model rules, explained

Liquor & Gaming NSW publishes a set of two-up rules that organisers can use; they are not mandatory, but they are the clearest official version of the game. The key points:

Rule	What it says
The ringkeeper	Controls the spinner and the game; their decision is final
Choosing a spinner	The kip is offered clockwise around the ring to the first person who accepts it
The coins	Two sets of seven pennies; only two are used; the tail side is marked with a white cross
Loading the kip	Pennies go on the kip tails up
A valid spin	Pennies must go at least two metres above the spinner's head, land inside the ring and not hit anyone, any object or the ceiling, or the ringkeeper calls "no spin" or "barred"
The centre	Centre money is set in full before side bets; the ringkeeper holds the spinner's stake and an equal amount from a tail bettor
Collecting	The spinner cannot take a dividend before three consecutive heads, and may withdraw after three
Losing	If the spinner throws tails, they lose all the money in the centre and the right to spin
Changing coins	After three heads in a row, the spinner chooses two new pennies from the set
Age	Nobody under 18 is allowed in the area while the game is played

Two-up odds, worked out

Each coin lands heads or tails with equal chance, so every toss has four equally likely outcomes: HH, HT, TH, TT.

Result	Ways	Chance per toss
Heads (HH)	1	25%
Tails (TT)	1	25%
Odds (HT or TH)	2	50%

Because odds decide nothing, every toss that counts is a pure 50/50 between heads and tails. On average it takes two tosses to get a result.

The spinner's job is harder. Under the NSW rules the spinner cannot collect until throwing three heads in a row, and a single tails ends the run. The chance of three heads before a tails is 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 = 1 in 8, or 12.5%. Seven spinners in eight lose the centre before they can collect.

Other streaks you will see on the day:

Streak	Chance
Odds on a single toss	50%
Odds five tosses in a row	3.1%
Three heads in a row (counting only tosses that decide something)	12.5%
Five heads in a row	3.1%

Is there a house edge in two-up?

Not in a social game. NSW's fact sheet says the whole prize pool must go to participants in a social game and no commission, percentage or fee on bets or winnings can be paid. Queensland says the same: all money wagered must be returned to players as winnings. That makes two-up one of the very few gambling games with no house edge at all; compare roulette's 2.70% in our roulette odds guide, or every game in our house edge table. Casino dice games are priced differently: our sic bo and craps odds pages work out the house edge on every bet, which in craps runs from 0% to 16.67%.

Fundraising and permit games can be different. In NSW a registered club can run fundraising two-up and give a share to charity. In Western Australia, a permitted game's ringkeeper may take a customary commission of up to 10% of the spinner's winnings after they withdraw, and of side bettors' winnings on heads placed through the ringkeeper. A 10% cut on heads wins, on a bet that wins half the time, is a 5% edge against heads bettors. Tails bettors in that setup pay nothing.

Pundit tip: in a no-commission game, the bet that costs you is the one you cannot afford. Set your Anzac Day limit in cash before you walk into the ring.

When two-up is legal: state by state

State	When and where two-up is legal	Key conditions
NSW	Anzac Day (25 April), Victory in the Pacific Day (15 August), Remembrance Day (11 November, after 12 noon only); Broken Hill all year	No charge to enter or play, no commission on social games; fundraising games only at registered clubs; no permit needed
Victoria	RSL Sub-Branches on ANZAC Day and the 7 days before; hotels, clubs and other venues on ANZAC Day only	Every game must be approved by RSL Victoria; non-RSL venues also need a local RSL Sub-Branch's endorsement
Queensland	Licensed RSL or services clubs on Anzac Day or another legally designated day of remembrance	Other licensed premises need written RSL sub-branch permission for an official function; all wagers returned as winnings; entry fees go to the RSL
Western Australia	Permit games for race clubs and charitable sporting organisations more than 100 km from Crown Casino	Anzac Day games, and race clubs within 100 km of the casino, need Ministerial approval; no admission charge; six hours maximum

For other states and territories, check the local gaming regulator before running a game.

Two up on Anzac Day: practical points

Opening hours. Victoria's regulator notes that most liquor licences do not allow alcohol to be sold, or poker machines to operate, before 12 noon on ANZAC Day unless an exemption applies. Check your venue's hours.
Applications. In Victoria, RSL Victoria approves games, and for 2026 applications after Friday 27 March 2026 were not considered. Plan early.
Social games. In NSW anyone can run two-up as social entertainment on the permitted days, without a permit, as long as no entry fee or commission is charged.
Kids. Under 18s cannot play in NSW, Queensland or WA. In NSW, betting with a minor carries up to 50 penalty units or 12 months' imprisonment.

Can you play two-up online?

The laws that make two-up lawful are about games run in person, on set days or in set places. An online two-up game played for money would be a gambling service under the Interactive Gambling Act, which defines one to include any game of chance played for money, and we know of no Australian licence for it. Any coin-toss game on an offshore casino site sits with the other prohibited online casino games covered in our casino games guide.

If a day at the ring goes further than you planned, free and confidential support is on our gambling help page.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play two-up?

A spinner tosses two coins from a kip. Players bet on heads (both coins heads) or tails (both tails), usually against each other. If the coins land one of each, called odds, nothing is decided and they are tossed again. The ringkeeper runs the game and their decision is final.

Is two-up legal on Anzac Day?

Yes, in the states we checked, under conditions. In NSW it is legal on 25 April with no commission or entry charge for the game. In Victoria, hotels and clubs need RSL endorsement and RSL Victoria approval. In Queensland it is legal in a licensed RSL or services club, or elsewhere with an RSL sub-branch's written permission.

What are the odds in two-up?

Each toss is heads 1 in 4, tails 1 in 4 and odds 1 in 2. Once you ignore the odds results, heads and tails are exactly 50/50. In a game with no commission, there is no house edge at all.

Why can two-up only be played on certain days?

Because it is otherwise an unlawful game under state gambling laws. NSW's Gambling (Two-up) Act 1998 makes two-up lawful on Anzac Day and other commemorative days, and in Broken Hill, under set conditions. Victoria's regulator says two-up is generally prohibited except in limited circumstances around Anzac Day.

Can kids play two-up?

No. NSW's rules say people under 18 are not allowed to play, and betting with a minor carries a penalty of up to 50 penalty units or 12 months' imprisonment. Queensland and Western Australia also bar under 18s.

Can you play two-up online for money?

We know of no state that permits it. The state laws that allow two-up are about games run in person on set days or at set places, and an online game played for money would be a gambling service under the Interactive Gambling Act.