General News
20 April, 2026
From decks to trenches: Crown and Anchor
From a military perspective, Crown and Anchor is a historically significant game.
From a military perspective, Crown and Anchor is a historically significant game.
It is a traditional dice-based gambling game, originating in 18th-century England.
The game was a staple, "beloved and banned", but it became widely popular among British Royal Navy sailors and fishermen, merchant fleets, as well as Australian and other "Colonial" and Commonwealth forces servicemen, particularly during the First and Second Boer Wars.
During World War I the game was immensely popular among soldiers, with boards sometimes improvised from materials like groundsheets, despite being frowned upon by authorities. It was even played by Prisoners of War.
Crown and anchor was played extensively, often illicit, dice-based gambling game deeply embedded in the culture.
It was favoured for its fast pace, ease of setup, and portability, allowing quick games during downtime on ships or in camp as a way for sailors and soldiers to pass time and wager on troop transport ships or in off-duty moments.
Despite its popularity, it was frequently illegal to play Crown and Anchor in the navy and army, as it was considered a way to "fleece" younger, naive soldiers of their money.
The game was favoured because it was simple to set up, requiring only three specially marked dice and a mat, and could be easily hidden if officers approached.
Mechanics
Symbols: The dice feature a crown and an anchor, along with four card suits (spades, clubs, diamonds, hearts).
Payouts: Players bet on which symbols will appear; payouts are typically 1:1 for a single, 2:1 on a double, and 3:1 on a triple, providing a roughly 7.5% to 13.8% house advantage.
Informal Banking: During World War I and II, the "bank" was often run by "old sweats" (experienced veterans) who collected a portion of the winnings.
Military perspective
Cultural Tradition: It is remembered as a nostalgic, albeit rowdy, part of maritime and military history, often associated with, and sometimes confused with, "Housey-Housey" (Bingo).
Risks: It was known to cause conflict, with games sometimes leading to violence.
Evolution: While once a hidden, illicit game, its legacy continues in modern times, sometimes played in, for example, the Channel Islands or during specific, organised events.
It was favoured for being fast-paced, easy to set up, and portable, allowing for quick games during downtime on ships or in camp.
Setup
Dice: Three specialised six-sided dice are used, which bear symbols instead of numbers.
The board: A layout, often a canvas or cloth mat, displays the same six symbols. Players place their bets on these symbols.
Banker: One person acts as the banker, throwing the dice from a cup, typically a leather "kip".
How to play
Gameplay: Players bet on one or more symbols. The banker rolls the three dice. It involves three dice featuring a crown, anchor, diamond, heart, spade, and club, with players betting on which symbol
Payouts: If a symbol a player bet on appears on one die, they win 1:1. If it appears on two dice, they win 2:1, and on three dice, 3:1.
Context: It was often played in clandestine spots away from military police, as it was considered a way to drain soldiers of their pay.
Significance: It is often linked to the "Diggers" (Australian soldiers) of World War I, with some accounts suggesting soldiers would desert to play.
The game was sometimes referred to as "Crown and Mud-hook" (mud-hook being slang for anchor).
Legacy
While illegal in many military contexts, it was immensely popular during wartime, sometimes even sold in toy stores in France to English troops.
It is closely related to "Chuck-a-Luck" and is often compared to the Australian game "Two-up".
The game is still played today, notably in Bermuda and the Channel Islands, and has similar variations in Asia, such as Bầu cua tôm cá in Vietnam and Jhandi Munda in India/Nepal.
The way towards a surefire win at the Crown and Anchor table is to double down at every loss and have a sizable wallet. So that means if you lose a $20 bet, you put down $40 the next time. If you lose that $40 bet, you put down $80, and so on until you win your stake back.
Symbolism
Fouled Anchor: The "fouled anchor" itself (an anchor with a cable wrapped around it) is a long-standing symbol of the Royal Navy and Commonwealth naval officers.
CPO Anchor: In the United States Navy, the "golden fouled anchor" is the collar device for a Chief Petty Officer, representing stability, security, and the "iron" bond between sailors.
