How to Host a Reindeer Race at Your Office Christmas Party
A "race night" is a classic party format: everyone picks a runner, the race plays out, and the room goes wild for the underdog. Swap horses for reindeer and you have the perfect office Christmas game — no skill needed, everyone has an equal chance, and it only takes about 10 minutes.
1. Create six racers
Give each reindeer a name, a one-line personality and odds. The descriptions are half the fun, so read them out loud:
| Racer | Odds | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jingle Jet | 2-1 | Last year's champ. Very confident. Maybe too confident. |
| Tinsel Tornado | 3-1 | Pure speed. Zero steering. |
| Professor Puddles | 5-1 | Has calculated the perfect line. |
| Snoozy Sven | 6-1 | Fast when awake. Rarely awake. |
| Cocoa Bean | 8-1 | Stops for snacks. Every single time. |
| Gingersnap | 12-1 | Smallest in the field. Biggest heart. |
2. Decide how people bet
- Simplest: everyone backs one racer.
- With points: give everyone 100 points to spread across racers.
- Keep it workplace-friendly: bet points or candy, never real money.
3. Run the race
You have three options:
- Dice: roll a die each turn; the matching reindeer moves one space on a board. Cheap, but slow with a big group.
- A race video: play a pre-made race on the TV. Exciting, but the result is the same every time you play.
- An animated race game: a random result every time, with commentary and automatic payouts. Best if you want to run more than one race.
4. Pay out
A simple payout table: winner pays 100 points plus 40 × the odds (so a 2-1 winner pays 180 and a 12-1 winner pays 580), second place pays 80, third pays 40. Run a second race at double points so anyone can still come back.
5. Add commentary
Nominate the loudest person in the office as race caller: "Jingle Jet takes an early lead! Is that Cocoa Bean stopping for a cookie?!" It costs nothing and doubles the fun.
Holiday Party Showdown includes two animated reindeer races with live commentary — guests bet from their phones and payouts are automatic. It also has holiday trivia, hot takes and your own office questions.
Try the free demo (includes a race)Get the full game
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