If you have opened Party Finder or seen some advertisements as of late, you may have found yourself stunned at the incredible levels of wealth that is up for grabs. I do not mean the recent boom in the crafter market, though to be sure, there is a veritable gil mine within.

No, instead I am referring to the shockingly high amounts being promised by venues in the form of giveaways and raffles.

Some of them boggle the mind - who has over 500 million gil to just part with? Rather than speculate, I took to the streets this week and knocked on so many doors my hands nearly fell off. I sat down with a variety of venue owners and goers alike to get some perspective on the culture and how such things are possible.

For the sake of protecting sources, most of what is to come was shared with me in confidence. There are some who did not mind being openly mentioned in this article, and I will reference them when applicable. As for my own thoughts, you may find them peppered within, but this is more a look into the industry itself, so they will be kept to a minimum.

If we did speak and you feel I have unfairly misrepresented your position, please reach out! I will be happy to correct the record.

Raffle Tactics

One of the first people I spoke with brought up a lot of history regarding these practices that I was unaware of, so as a bit of a benchmark we will start there.

Giveaways and raffles have been going on for about as long as venues have been around, with years of success and folly. And I say folly because there have been several instances in the past that have been plagued with corruption, shady dealings, and extreme bullying. Even today, schemes are carried out by bands of trolls, purportedly hired by competitors, with the express purpose of destroying the reputations of club owners.

And malicious tactics are not reserved for those acting externally, either. In the past, certain unnamed venues have been known to use raffles as a marketing ploy, getting potential guests interested only to change rules at the last second, or even go so far as to rig outcomes so trusted parties receive the prizes and keep them internal. By doing so, they are able to sell tickets while not actually parting with anything, resulting in something akin to a donation campaign. However, not all venues partake in these practices, and by all accounts, they seem to be more a thing of the past.

Of the venue owners I spoke with who participate in giveaways and raffles, all were very positive in their reasoning for doing so. One owner stated, “When I opened [my venue], it was due to me wanting to try and give back to the community,” a sentiment shared by all those who were willing to discuss. Many had amassed a great many belongings in their time, and rather than horde them, they wanted to use venues as an outlet for spreading their own wealth and treasures.

In particular, the sprout community was one that came up a few times as a target for these types of events, a way to both set them up with some nice things that might otherwise take a lifetime to obtain as well as open the door to the social gatherings that take place across Hydaelyn.

Some venues have even reconsidered the giveaway aspect of events. “The financial side of it doesn’t make sense unless you know you can make the money back easy,” said one, adding, “I just feel there’s an RMT stain on [gil] giveaways. [They] sound nice on their face, but what else would draw guests to your place?” We also spoke on the subject of gift cards. “That may be the only way I do giveaways in the future outside of special occasions. I feel just giving gil is…hollow.

“But we do gift cards for restaurants. Maybe the winner usually just eats ramen, and then BLAM they can get something they normally wouldn’t be able to? I feel it’s positive.” When asked about any potential concerns for changes to the laws to prohibit that style of giveaway they told me, “I don’t feel a particular concern about it, not because they wouldn’t, but because I don’t feel it’s a must-have…In the creative world, you gotta be flexible. Re-invent yourself when needed.”

Rather than being a cynical marketing ploy to get bodies in the door, it seems that giveaways are typically used as supplemental means to help out those who frequent venues. The desire to help them does follow, as without patrons a venue becomes nothing more than a room. Does that mean EVERY venue has such intentions?

Answering that is not so simple, with the easy conclusion being “probably not,” though there is at the very least a dedicated group of owners who are trying to provide this service as something charitable.

Not every venue owner was convinced, though. “When the house goes for 50/50 or 70/30 [raffles] then it’s just another way for that venue to generate gil,” one expressed, mentioning they felt it is akin to a scam. Does this hold weight, though? Certainly, in some cases, a raffle can be used to fund expenses. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Perhaps, if that is all a venue offers. But in some circumstances, it might be integral to the continuation of operations.

As discussed in a previous article, standard wages are rising and venue owners are under pressure to retain staff numbers. A raffle might not be entirely beneficial to those who partake, but they also help to keep venues running for some with fewer means and big dreams. Still, that cannot be the only way a venue operates or it does become hollow.

Another owner shared, “I personally put down a big starting pot,” and while they do a split-style raffle - meaning the winner takes a portion with the rest going back into the venue - by putting in their own funds, the owner does ensure that in some cases a portion is going out into the community, no strings attached. When it comes to the venues that do commit to raffles and giveaways, the general consensus is about having fun first and worrying about funds second.

Owners were also asked about Mogstation and gift card giveaways. Two owners I spoke with had worked with the latter, explaining they wanted to potentially help those in need through their program, as mentioned earlier. On the former, some admitted to trying Mogstation as a means for bolstering prize pools, though the recent changes to the system had caused these attempts to drop dramatically.

One owner explained that being from a different part of the world made the process too much of a headache. “We rarely give away Mogstation items since it’s extremely expensive [where we live]… some of [the items] can’t be given anymore.” Another expressed worry that “It feels like it goes a bit too close to RMT and could put us in trouble,” instead opting to provide only prizes they could produce internally.

Could this new practice pose a risk in the future? Only time will tell, and it seems many are interested in avoiding finding out the hard way.

In addition to venues that do hold raffles and giveaways, I also was able to speak with those that do not. “Our place has always been more about the atmosphere and the people rather than the gimmicks and the gifts.” This was a thought that appeared a few times, and while it may seem like a condemnation, none were actually against the idea, clarifying that doing so was just not something for them.

“We do our own thing and have a small but very specific niche crowd.”

“If a venue wishes to spend [their resources] on the giveaways that’s on them.” It seems the overall feel from other venues is to exist in a live and let live world, where both sides do what they enjoy rather than viewing the other as competitors. And while some patrons may wish to go to one over another, is it not healthier for the community to have options and participate in activities they enjoy?

Speaking of the community, patrons were also excited to share their experiences and opinions on the topic. One echoed an earlier sentiment, regretting changes to the Mogstation. “I think Mogstation giveaways were the beating heart of some venues,” they said, “some venues rely on giveaways to stay afloat.”

Another was less interested in giveaways in general, but not opposed to them, stating “The times I do see raffles or giveaways, I tend not to participate. If I feel generous, I will give into the prize pool of a raffle, but I tend to decline being in the draw for it. Granted, I am a person that has everything they need.”

Some in the community were a little sour on certain practices, one going so far as to proclaim “I think raffles with unlimited entries suck actually. Realistically the people who already have money will simply win every time in a rich-get-richer scenario.” Another wanted to take things further, telling me, “All venues are terrible and should be abolished,” before absconding into the night.

Despite these select examples, the community as a whole was more or less in favor of raffles and giveaways, and all expressed more enthusiasm for winning items sourced locally over gift cards and other such prizes.

“I’ve won some smaller gil giveaways that’ll help pay for my upcoming house!”

“I guess getting a mount for my partner was a highlight!”

“The biggest highlight was in my first few months of playing! …I was able to get a ton of emotes I wanted at the time!”

While the few I spoke with are not necessarily representative of the entire community, it is somewhat telling how much excitement there was surrounding Hydaelyn-based prizes over alternatives.

Does It Work?

Does this mean that newer venues should plan their operations around the practice? Not at all! While it is one method to run things, everyone needs to find their own way. At least, that’s what the professionals say.

“Don’t expect to make money. Venues are to be taken as gil drains (particularly if you’re opening nightclubs, RP venues are not as much). Decide what kind of venue you wanna be: RP-oriented, nightclub, themed…If you’re opening a venue to have fun, I believe you’re on the right track, if you’re doing it for any other reason, you’ll probably suffer. Bad days are normal, slow days are normal…Don’t overthink, don’t worry about clout, just have a good time, have a solid and drama-less staff & team and make sure you’re doing it with friends.” - Anonymous

“Find people who have the same goals and vision as you do, communicate what you want to do clearly with each other…There is always a market for what you like just gotta reach them…People forget the whole point of Venues is to have fun, RP (Roleplay) is supposed to be fun. People get so caught up in gil and fake clout that they seem to forget that the really important things are the irreplaceable friendships or even relationships that can develop from these things.” - Noire Uni, Kawaii Weeb Cafe

“Bring innovation, keep it fresh. Don’t be afraid to try something new even if the venue goes empty one night. Ask your crowd to get involved, see what they like, what they’re looking for. Take your time and visit other venues, talk with owners connect with them, make friends…we help each other a lot… the more you’re out there for the community the more they will get to know you.” - Gotz Nozdormu, Whiskey A Gogo

“Well, networking is the goal for a good start, the more friends and connections you have, the better the start…I would focus on the theme and the entertainment, like mini-games and social interactions, that can be done in-[venue]. Otherwise, people will be there half of the time, or most of the time [bored & quiet].” - Tsuyu Aihara, Poin Poin Maid Cafe

“What makes you passionate? What do you think you can offer? Those things [giveaways and raffles] are incentives, or maybe like a sweetener. Too much of it and it’s gaudy. Tastes awful. If you want to be economical, a raffle with some kind of minimum payout works great. But always be as transparent as possible. Not just for guests, for the staff who work with you. Even though they may be ‘under’ you, they still watch you. So being a better example can make an impact on your staff as well.” - Anonymous

A venue can be whatever you want it to be. If your goal is to conform to standards, then that is your choice. Research everyone and emulate them as best as you can. But if you want to shine, look at what you have, what you can do, think about what you really want and create your own raucous rebellion. Everything here is about having fun at the end of the day and whether you are in it to give back, cash in for prizes, or just enjoy a tight-knit group of similarly-minded friends, that is okay. Just be sure to do your best! We all remember the highs and lows - if you too want to be remembered, I hope it’s for a high.

Author’s Note: Some quotes were modified for brevity and clarity.