TOPIC: GenCon 2020 VIG Lottery

I know that a number of people here are interested in the VIG lottery. I wanted to post this information that I got from Mike Boozer (head of the VIG Program).

To enter the random selection process for the 2020 show please send your Gen Con ID number, name, and the email associated with that account between November 15 and December 8, 2019 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will enter you into the random selection process.

You must have a Gen Con account to enter. You must be 18 years old to purchase a VIG package.We will be conducting the random selection in early January of 2020.

You will be contacted if you are selected with further instructions at that time.Separate accounts must send their information via their account only. We will not accept multiple accounts sent via a single email.

Account holder must be 18 years old to purchase a VIG package.

Just so you know, Mike also said that last year, based on the number of entries and spots available, everyone had a 2.5% chance to being offered a VIG spot. while this sounds bad, it's actually a 1 in 40 chance. Hopefully more TD people can win the VIG lottery this year!

Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

Kirk Bauer wrote: Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

I totally understand Kirk. I succeeded last year (6th attempt), so good luck on getting in this year!

Fiddy wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

I totally understand Kirk. I succeeded last year (6th attempt), so good luck on getting in this year!

The big question is are you renewing your VIG? Did you find it worth it?

jedibcg wrote:

Fiddy wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

I totally understand Kirk. I succeeded last year (6th attempt), so good luck on getting in this year!

The big question is are you renewing your VIG? Did you find it worth it?

The hotel block open early is worth it

My whole family tried for a few years before finally getting it. And the only reason we got it was because that was the year the program expanded because they reduced the number of companions each VIG could bring.

IMHO it is worth it, if only for the guaranteed connected hotel room. The other stuff is nice too, but it is just icing on the cake.

jedibcg wrote:

Fiddy wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

I totally understand Kirk. I succeeded last year (6th attempt), so good luck on getting in this year!

The big question is are you renewing your VIG? Did you find it worth it?

Well I have been questioning it the last couple years. $600 is a lot of money. Could save a ton not getting it and also staying at a hotel farther away rather than a close $200+/night hotel. It is nice being close for sure but is it THAT nice? The problem is if I drop it I probably won't get it back if I ever change my mind so for that reason alone I'll probably keep renewing.

The non-hotel perks, I would not really care at all if I lost those.

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

jedibcg wrote:

Fiddy wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

I totally understand Kirk. I succeeded last year (6th attempt), so good luck on getting in this year!

The big question is are you renewing your VIG? Did you find it worth it?

The hotel block open early is worth it

Yep, that alone was worth it for me. I game early and late, so really want the connected hotel. Cost of VIG is less than the insane surcharge of getting one of those rooms outside block (my luck with housing portal lottery was never better than my luck with VIG lottery).

jedibcg wrote:

Fiddy wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: Thank you for the info! As somebody who has been trying for 7 years it is frustrating that some people get it on their first try. I wish you'd get one "entry" for each year you entered so newbies have a chance but the longer you have been trying the bigger chance you'd get.

I totally understand Kirk. I succeeded last year (6th attempt), so good luck on getting in this year!

The big question is are you renewing your VIG? Did you find it worth it?

Hi, there. My wife is also a VIG, and we definitely find the program worth it for a lot of reasons:
-It's actually 2 guaranteed rooms: one for the VIG, one for the companion. That works out to ~$70/night premium across the two rooms. Certainly lower than outside the block rates.
-The lounge is not to be underestimated. It saves 2 hours worth of will call for badge pickup, more hours if we want to change events/return tickets, a nice place to sit and eat, bag check... it's an undervalued perk.
-The lounge staff will also send runners to pick up non-VIG friends' packets from will call
-The swag bag is certainly hit or miss, but there's occasionally some interesting items
-The Thursday night dinner is kind of nice.

I somewhat miss the vendor hall early entry, but less than I thought i would. Not having it anymore frees up a Thursday morning gaming slot.

I miss the early access to the show floor, that was honestly the best feature, hotel rooms are the best that remain. That said I use the backpack and mug they “give” VIGs more than the room was used even per person.

Fiddy wrote: Yep, that alone was worth it for me. I game early and late, so really want the connected hotel. Cost of VIG is less than the insane surcharge of getting one of those rooms outside block (my luck with housing portal lottery was never better than my luck with VIG lottery).

We are the same. Before VIG, we were paying out of block for our downtown hotel room. The cost of my VIG badge plus my husband's companion badge is still less than the savings we have over our 6 night stay, plus this is guaranteed and we get whichever hotel we want. Totally worth it.

I agree that the lounge is nice, the swag bag is fun, and my husband loves the t-shirt every year being included. I went to the mixer on Thursday for the first time ever last year and it was super nice... far more than I expected.

Most of the events in Room 100 have 'VIG seating', which allows entry before everyone else.

I've never done the VIG TD runs though, because our kids are not VIG and they couldn't participate with us.

Helen wrote: Most of the events in Room 100 have 'VIG seating'

Be sure to steer clear of Room 101! I hear that's the absolute worst...