US Meat Raffles

Volunteer John Sartwell announces the winning numbers during a meat raffle April 10, 2026, at American Legion Post 150 in Waconia, Minn.

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Hot dogs and steaks and bacon, oh my! Meat raffles keep a beloved Midwest tradition alive

Hot dogs and steaks and bacon, oh my! Meat raffles keep a beloved Midwest tradition alive

They're called meat raffles, and they're a tradition in a few pockets of the U.S. They're featured mainly at neighborhood bars or at American Legion or VFW posts in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York state. Players enter for a chance to win a pack of ground beef, hot dogs, chicken breasts or steaks. The profits go to charity. But the games are under pressure in Minnesota due to rising meat prices. Minnesota’s prize limit was set at $70 total per event nearly 40 years ago. So there’s a move afoot at the state Capitol to raise the cap to $200.