Games vs Giveaways: What Actually Works at Exhibitions?
One of the most common questions we hear from exhibitors is whether they should invest in exhibition games or stick with traditional giveaways. Pens, tote bags, sweets, and flyers have been part of exhibitions for decades, but visitor behaviour has changed. With increasingly busy halls and shorter attention spans, exhibitors need to think carefully about how they attract and hold attention.
At Expo Play, we work with exhibitors across all sectors—from Tech Companies and Manufacturing & Engineering to Charity Events and Sports & Fitness Expos. In our experience, both games and giveaways can work well, but they deliver very different outcomes.
What Are Giveaways Good At?
Giveaways are familiar and easy to deploy. They require little explanation, no interaction, and minimal staff involvement. Visitors understand them instantly and can pick something up while passing through the hall.
Giveaways are often effective for:
- High-volume footfall where speed matters
- Brand visibility after the event
- Budget-conscious stands
- Events where engagement time is limited
However, giveaways tend to create very short interactions. Visitors may collect an item without stopping, speaking to staff, or even remembering which stand it came from. In many cases, giveaways are quickly forgotten, discarded, or mixed in with items from dozens of other exhibitors.
What Exhibition Games Do Differently
Exhibition games serve a different purpose. Rather than being passive, they invite participation. Games give visitors a reason to stop, stay, and engage—often for several minutes instead of a few seconds.
We regularly see exhibitors use Exhibition Games to:
- Increase stand dwell time
- Create natural conversation starters
- Support product demonstrations
- Encourage repeat visits
- Make stands more memorable
Games such as the Strike a Light 2 Players, Batak Pro, or Pixel Play create visible activity that attracts attention from across the hall. Visitors are far more likely to remember a stand they interacted with than one they simply walked past.
Games and Lead Generation
One of the biggest advantages of games is their ability to support structured lead capture. Prize-based games, in particular, provide a clear reason for visitors to share their details.
Options like the Crack the Safe or Prize Crane Grabber are commonly linked to QR sign-ups, demo bookings, surveys, or competition entries. This approach helps filter out low-quality leads while ensuring visitors actively opt in to follow-up communication.
Giveaways, by contrast, rarely offer this level of control. While they can raise awareness, they do not usually support meaningful data capture without additional steps.
Branding: Passive vs Active Exposure
Giveaways rely on post-event exposure. A branded item might be used days or weeks later, assuming it isn’t discarded. The connection between the item and the exhibitor can be weak, particularly if the interaction was brief.
Games provide immediate brand reinforcement. With our Custom Branding service, games can be fully aligned with your stand design, campaign messaging, and visual identity. Visitors see your brand repeatedly during the interaction, often while speaking directly to your team.
This active exposure tends to leave a stronger impression than a logo printed on a low-value item.
Cost vs Value
At first glance, giveaways may appear cheaper. However, when you consider how many items are taken without interaction, the cost per meaningful engagement can be surprisingly high.
Games, while a larger upfront investment, often deliver better value per interaction. A single game can engage hundreds or even thousands of visitors over the course of an event, creating repeated opportunities for conversation and lead capture.
For exhibitors focused on quality engagement rather than sheer volume, games frequently outperform giveaways.
When Giveaways Still Make Sense
This does not mean giveaways have no place at exhibitions. In fact, we often recommend using them alongside games rather than instead of them.
Giveaways work well when:
- Used as prizes for games
- Given after a conversation or demo
- Linked to a QR journey or sign-up
- Reinforcing a message introduced through gameplay
In these cases, the giveaway becomes part of a wider engagement strategy rather than a standalone tactic.
The Most Effective Approach: Games and Giveaways
In our experience, the strongest exhibition stands combine both approaches. Games attract attention and create engagement, while giveaways act as a takeaway that reinforces the interaction.
For example, a visitor might take part in a quick challenge, speak with your team, sign up for further information, and then receive a branded item as a thank-you. This sequence is far more effective than handing out items to passers-by.
This approach works across sectors, including Construction & Industry, Hospitality Shows, Logistics & Supply Chain Shows, and Public Sector Events.
What We Recommend at Expo Play
Rather than asking whether games or giveaways are better, we encourage exhibitors to think about what they want to achieve. If your goal is awareness alone, giveaways may be sufficient. If you want engagement, conversation, and leads, games are usually the stronger option.
Our role is to help you choose the right mix. We look at your stand size, audience, sector, and objectives, then recommend games and formats that support your goals—whether that includes giveaways or not.
If you’re planning an exhibition and want advice on what will work best for your stand, we’re always happy to help.