Beer in one hand, a stack of money in the other. This was the common sight among punters taking their chance in a game of two-up on Monday.
The Anzac Day tradition was as popular as ever across Newcastle as people spent their public holiday at various pubs and clubs to keep the tradition alive.
Hundreds flocked to the Lucky Hotel in Newcastle to join in the fun, amongst past and present servicemen and servicewomen in uniform.
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"Who would ever go with tails," said Wickham resident Ed Claris who had already made a handful of profit by midday.
"Tails ain't lucky. Been doing heads for years and I have been playing this game for as long as I can remember."
Not everyone agreed. Ex serviceman Daniel Pell said heads was the way to go, despite struggling to make a profit throughout the day.
"It's a game of chance, but always take your chance on heads," he said.
The Anzac Day tradition sees two coins thrown into the air on a wooden board known as a kip, and players bet on which side it will land. But the tradition does not come cheap. Money is bet on whether the coins both come up as heads, tails, or one of each.
"I think I've lost about $100 and I have been here for about an hour," said Mr Claris.
"But it is one day a year and it is all a bit of fun in the name of the Anzac's. Just don't tell the missus."
He wasn't alone. People across the city began the day with a dawn service, before heading to their local pub or club to take part in the tradition.
After two years of COVID-19 restrictions cancelling games of two-up, many were happy to return this year.
The game, originally called "pitch and toss" was first played as a pastime among soldiers in World War I, and brought to Australia by the English and Irish where it became a legacy played every Anzac Day.
It is typically the first and last time of the year it can be played, as it is banned on every day except for Anzac Day because it is considered unregulated gambling.
However, this year it was legalised over the whole three-day long weekend to make up for lost time due to COVID-19.
The Northern Star Hotel in Hamilton did not let this go to waste, making the 2022 Anzac Day long weekend one to remember. The pub held two-up games everyday over the three day weekend and one punter said he was spending the once-off as best he could.
"I set myself a limit and only took out $200 for the whole weekend so I didn't go too crazy," said John Hopmin.
"I came here twice this long weekend. I don't think about how much I lost I think about the experience I had because that is what it is all about!
"I might have a sore head tomorrow but I've got a whole year to recover, that's the beauty of two-up."
