Geekway Mini is a small and local convention that takes place in January of each year, also near St. Louis, Missouri. The focus of Geekway Mini is just playing games — as such, there are no vendors and the only activity is Play and Win. Geekway Mini is also much smaller, with an attendance cap of only 400. 

The smaller venue and attendance cap means this event sells out very quickly. Scroll down to find registration information, and watch Facebook and email for info on upcoming Geekway Minis.

Badge Cost: $105

Venue (Convention Location and Hotel)

Sheraton Westport Chalet

191 Westport Plaza Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146 [Google map of hotel]
We reserve a block of rooms at special pricing, which is available starting in October prior to Mini. 

Hotel Website & Booking

Food, Drinks and Alcohol

You can leave to go eat at any of the nearby restaurants in Westport Plaza, or bring food, drinks and alcohol into the gaming room. (But please make sure to clean up after yourself and throw trash away.)

Play and Win Geekway Mini 2026 Games

Check out the growing list of Play and Win games on Board Game Geek. 

What is Play and Win?

As far as we know, Geekway to the West was the first convention to formally offer a “Play and Win” selection in our library back in 2008 or 2009. We started with only five games, all donated by publishers to support our tiny little convention. (If you know differently, let us know!)

Play and Win is pretty simple in concept. There is a lineup of games which can be checked out and played. For each play, you get a chance to win the game. Toward the end of the convention we run a drawing (computerized) and every one of the Play and Win games are given away.    

Summary:

1. Check out a game

2. Play the game with your friends

3. Check the game back in

4. Enter the play at one of the kiosks

5. Go back to Step 1

Details

Checkout: Decide what game to play and one person in your group checks it out. To check out a game, you will need your badge, which you should have with you at all times. A Geek Guide at the table near the door will scan your badge and the bar code on the game. Note this is the bar code on the Geekway sticker and not the UPC bar code on the game box. That’s it. Go have fun.

Play the Game: No explanation needed here. To help avoid games being checked out for long periods of time, there is a 4 hour time limit for a game to be checked back in. If that time limit is exceeded, the play is disqualified from the drawing. For most games this is plenty of time, though for the few long/complex games on Play and Win, you might need to be careful to wrap up your play in time.

Check In: Take the game back to the Play and Win room and have it scanned by one of the Geek Guides at the table near the door. Only the game needs to be scanned. Then place it back on the shelf in its proper location. Games are arranged alphabetically and the shelves are labeled.

Enter the Play: After check in, you can enter the play at one of the kiosks. You can do this at any time, though best to do it right away so you don’t forget about the play or who all participated. 

Next: If Play and Win is still open, repeat the process with another game.

For more details, answers to the most common questions and eligibility, check out the Play and Win FAQs and Policies page.