Crown and Anchor - Bermuda Game
Cup Match takes place on the Thursday and Friday before the first Monday in August.

Crown and Anchor in Bermuda

Crown and Anchor is a simple dice game, traditionally played for gambling purposes by sailors in the British Navy. It is still popular in the Channel Islands, but is strictly controlled and may only be played on certain days, such as the three annual agricultural shows.

Three special dice are used in Crown and Anchor. The dice are equal in size and shape to standard dice, but instead of one through six pips, they are marked with six symbols: crown, anchor, diamond, spade, club and heart. (The last four are the same symbols used on playing cards).

A canvas or felt mat is used for placing bets. A player can wager on one or more symbols. He then throws the three dice, and is paid by the banker accordingly. Even money is paid if one of his bets comes up, 2:1 if two, and 3:1 if three. Odds are clearly in favor of the banker.

Variations
The rules of Crown and Anchor are the same as those of the American game chuck-a-luck. There is a similar Flemish version called Anker en Zon, or "Anchor and Sun", in which a sun symbol replaces the crown. The French version again uses the sun, and is called Ancre, Pique et Soleil. A version played in China and Vietnam is called Hoo Hey How or Bau cua ca cop.

Crown and Anchor is a pure betting game involving 3 dice with symbols on them: Heart, Club, Diamond, Spade, Crown and Anchor. (The Flemmish version called "Anker en Zon" had a 'Sun' symbol instead of the 'Crown'.)  The player places bets on a cloth or board with the same six symbols as featured on the dice. Payout corresponds to the number of dice showing one or more of the symbols the player bet on. Payout is 1:1 for a single, 2:1 on a double and 3:1 on a triple.  Apparently, the odds are in favour of the banker by around 8%.  Crown and Anchor evolved into the casino game "Chuck a Luck".

Crown & Anchor at Cup Match

Bermuda celebrates this two-day public holiday to allow its residents to watch a game of cricket between a team from the west end, Somerset, and a team from the east end, St. George's. On Cup Match days, many natives (Bermudians) don't actually go to the game but choose instead to listen to it on the radio or watch it on TV (pay-per-view anyone?). You will find many residents camping and picnicking at the public (Government) parks or beaches or both. The designated campgrounds are Ferry Point, Coney Island and Chaplin Bay but all public parks and beaches (including the whole length of Kindley Field Road from the Airport's entrance past Stonecrushers Corner to the swinging bridge into St. George's) are liable to be invaded by persons pitching tents from two days beforehand and until the Sunday evening after Cup Match. It is an island tradition that sometimes disconcerts tourists in search of a quiet area to enjoy the sun and sand.

"Ay Bye, Cup Match is for Bermudians!"

Tourist Cup Match Information:

Tourism Information: If you are planning your trip to Bermuda in the first week in August, you will not see Bermuda as it is the rest of the year. It is sometimes hard to find the usual level of service on this weekend (week?) of the year because literally, "THE WHOLE ISLAND SHUTS DOWN!" Bus service is on a very limited schedule, it is absolutely impossible to get a taxi anytime the whole weekend, you may find that many of the workers at your hotel who are normally there and excellent workers, not there at all for a weekend. Hopefully, if you have planned a trip on this weekend, you want to see us locals partying and having a good time. Even the most reserved let their hair down on Cup Match! Come enjoy the gambling at the Crown and Anchor tables, enjoy local food from the many vendors, try a rum drink from one of many mixed drinks or beer tents, oh... and, of course, check out the Cricket match.