It’s heads, tails, and plenty of cheers every Friday night at The Palace Hotel in Broken Hill
The Palace Hotel in Broken Hill might be famous for its cameo in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but it’s not just queens making a scene here.
Every Friday night, this grand old pub comes alive with a crowd of keen punters yelling “Come in Spinner!” as they try their luck at Two-Up – the game that’s as Aussie as meat pies and vegemite.
For most of Australia, Two-Up is strictly an Anzac Day affair, but at The Palace Hotel, they toss coins every Friday night, turning the pub into a rowdy haven for locals and visitors chasing the thrill of the toss.
What’s the deal with Two-Up?
Two-Up kicked off in the goldfields back in the 1850s and made its way into the trenches of World War I. On Anzac Day, it is played as a tribute to these servicemen.
Two-Up is basically heads or tails on steroids, where punters simply bet on whether the coins land as two heads or two tails. Easy, right? Well, not quite.
The action centres around the spinner, who uses a wooden paddle (called a kip) to toss the coins into the air. Before any coins are flipped, the spinner has to make a cash bet against the banker, who’s like a bookie at the racetrack, setting the odds on the spinner’s bets and holding the spinner’s money. Meanwhile, the rest of the crowd gets in on the side betting, which is arguably where all the action is.
To place a side bet, simply wave your cash above your head if you’re betting on heads or give your backside a cheeky tap with your cash if you’re backing tails. Once the ring-keeper (basically the MC of the action) calls out, “Come in, Spinner!” the coins are tossed high into the air. They need to reach at least three metres, land inside the ring, and then it’s all up to luck!
Two-Up at The Palace Hotel
Where: 227 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW
When: Every Friday Night, 9pm-11pm
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