Any Australian venturing out to either a pub or RSL club tomorrow will probably be met with the sight of two-up being played. More curious readers may be wondering to themselves why two-up is only played on Anzac Day. Even if you aren’t actually interested, please do read on because the laws concerning two-up and Anzac Day is rather interesting. Well, at least we here at FindLaw think so.

Two-up legislation (yes, really)

Anzac Day is the one day of the year where two-up is legal in Victoria, while in New South Wales, two-up can be played on not only Anzac day, but any other designated commemorative days.

The Gambling (Two-Up) Act in New South Wales and Victoria’s s 2.3.2 Gambling Regulation Act allows two-up to be played on Anzac Day if certain conditions are met.

In New South Wales, the Gambling (Two-up) Act requires that games are played on a not for profit basis, or in the case of a club: no entrance fee to a premises that is holding a two-up game is allowed. Furthermore, clubs that host games of two-up must donate all proceeds to a charity, or a charitable cause.

Section 9 of the Gambling (Two-Up) Act has special provisions allowing certain areas in Broken Hill to hold games if it is council run, or the council has approved a venue for games to be held. Broken Hill has special exemption due to the fact that popular games of two-up were conducted in a café until it was forced to stop running games in 1984. The Gambling (Two-Up) Act was amended in 1992 to allow Broken Hill to re-introduce two-up, provided certain requirements were met. New South Wales also allows two-up to be played on the Victory of the Pacific Day (15 August) and Remembrance Day after 12 pm.

In Victoria, the local RSL club and venues approved by the Minister for Gaming are the only places where two-up may be played.

Possible defences for participating in an illegal two-up game

Anyone who participates in an illegal two-up game has a defence if they did not know the game was illegal.

For any readers who are out and about on Anzac Day where a game of two-up is being played, we wish you the best of luck and ‘come in spinner’.



