Do Train Shows or Train Meets Have Raffles, or Door Prizes.?

Yes, there are both raffles and door prizes. I think it is pretty common.   I've been to maybe 100 shows over the last 40 years and have never won top prize.  Maybe thirty years ago - my sons were kids,  I won a building kit at a show, it was third door price, I believe. We had fun putting it together and all.   

Yes...the "local" (within the state borders) TCA meets do, with a drawing.  Several years ago I won something, back when I was setting up..hardly remember what, think it was a Lionel car, that I sold.  Seems like you have to be there to win, in some of them, and I usually do a couple of runs through and then leave.

I don't believe raffles are legal in most states unless you are licensed to do so (it is gambling). you may also have to be a 501c type charity to get the permit. free giveaways or door prizes are permitted.

Many shows have door prizes. I don't check my ticket because I don't want to pay income tax on a item I don't want.

The Home and Garden Channel used to award a Million-plus $ "Dream Home" every year. However, 95% of the winners had to sell it to cover taxes.

All the local shows I've been to have had door prizes. It's usually a Lionel starter set or something similar.

Hmmm...I must be going to the wrong shows...I can't recall any that gave a large or

valuable enough prize that I had to worry about paying income tax on it.  But maybe

it is that I have only won third prize and didn't get that Big Boy they were giving away

(har de har!).  Prizes are often donated by attending dealers, and, heh-heh, are not

found on the front covers of the catalogs.

How did you find that out?

A lot of them do. I won a $50 certificate at a show in Annapolis about 20 years ago that was good for any vendor at the show.

I've never seen any prize at a train show that would require you to settle up with the tax man, I mean do you pay taxes on stuff you win at a carnival or at the local resorts boardwalk games?

HGTV still does the Dream Home give away. Many people do sell them for various reasons, location not close to them or for tax reasons, don't think it's 95% tho. The also include  a car and some cash now to help cover some of the tax burden but not sure how much it might help.

Jerry

Yes, both raffles and door prizes are common at the shows I have attended.  I won a K-Line covered hopper door prize at Scranton, PA, once.  Actually, I had already left the meet but the daughter of my late favorite train dealer recognized my name as it was called out.  She went and claimed the car for me.

Yes, TCA I belong to at our  shows we always have a raffle. There is one that has cost and you have to buy tickets and at the end of the show there is one for the table holders where you put your name tag in a hat. No charge for that one.

Some do, some don't.

Some have special door prize drawings for kids too.

As to your originally quoted situation and odds, your luck is only 1/2 as good as you think it is.

5 winners out of 250 tickets is one in fifty, not one in twenty five.

-Dave

Greenberg's in Monroeville, PA used to have door prizes but I haven't been to one for many years so I don't know if they still do it.

Rick

Yes, the few I have attended do.  Even York has door prizes.

.....

Dennis

Many that I have been to offer entry level starter sets as door prizes.

I recall door prizes at most of the shows I've attended. Sadly, I don't recall me ever winning one of them.