Goon of Fortune is an Australian drinking game where you peg a bag of boxed wine to a rotating clothesline, spin it, and make whoever it stops closest to drink from the bag. It is basically Wheel of Fortune if the wheel lived in a backyard and made worse decisions.
The traditional version uses goon, which is Australian slang for boxed wine, and a Hills Hoist-style rotary clothesline. No clothesline? You can still play a bootleg version with a spinning chair, lazy Susan, or bottle-spin setup, but the backyard clothesline is the whole personality of the game.
GOON OF FORTUNE RULES — QUICK VERSION
- Remove the wine bladder from a box of wine.
- Peg the goon bag securely to one arm of a rotary clothesline.
- Players stand evenly spaced in a circle around the clothesline.
- Spin the clothesline.
- Whoever the goon bag stops closest to takes the agreed drink.
- Keep spinning until the bag is empty, players tap out, or the group calls it.
To play Goon of Fortune: hang a bag of boxed wine from a spinning clothesline, stand players around it, spin the line, and have the person nearest the bag drink when it stops. The game usually ends when the goon runs out or only one player is still in.
What You Need to Play Goon of Fortune
- A bag of boxed wine, also called goon
- A rotary clothesline, ideally a Hills Hoist-style one
- Strong pegs or clips
- 4 or more players
- Water and a clear outdoor space
Best Number of Players
Goon of Fortune works best with 4 to 12 players. You need enough people to make the wheel feel random, but not so many that everyone is shoulder-to-shoulder under a spinning clothesline arm.
How to Set Up Goon of Fortune
1. Free the Goon Bag
Take the wine bladder out of the cardboard box and make sure the tap works before attaching it. Testing the tap after it is airborne is how people get baptized in cheap wine.
2. Peg It to the Clothesline
Attach the bag securely to one arm of the rotary clothesline. Use more than one peg. A flying goon bag is funny for about half a second, then it is just sticky.
3. Space Players Evenly
Everyone stands around the clothesline at roughly equal distance. Once the spin starts, nobody moves toward or away from the landing zone.
PEG BAG → FORM CIRCLE → SPIN LINE → NEAREST PLAYER DRINKS → REPEAT
How to Play Goon of Fortune
1. Spin the Clothesline
A player gives the clothesline a proper spin. Weak little half-spins should be re-spun because this is fortune, not targeted wine delivery.
2. Wait for It to Stop
Nobody touches the line while it is moving. Nobody shuffles sideways trying to dodge fate. The whole point is letting the backyard machinery decide.
3. Nearest Player Drinks
When the bag stops, the player closest to the goon takes a drink from the tap. Agree on the drink size before starting. A small timed swig is cleaner than vague yelling.
4. Keep Rotating
The drinker or next player spins for the next round. Keep going until the bag is empty or the group is done.
Goon of Fortune House Rules & Variations
Elimination Version
Players are out if they refuse a drink, leave the circle, or hit a set number of drinks. Last person left wins.
Empty Bag Version
No eliminations. You just play until the goon runs out. This is simpler and usually better for parties.
Multiple Goon Bags
Attach more than one bag to the clothesline. This speeds up the game fast, so use lighter pours and do not pretend surprise when it gets messy.
No Clothesline Version
Use a lazy Susan, spinning chair, or bottle-spin mechanic. It works, but it is more “Goon Adjacent” than full Goon of Fortune.
Our Recommended Goon of Fortune Rules
COLLEGEWARES GOON OF FORTUNE RULES
- Use one bag for the first game.
- Set the drink at a 2-3 second pour or modest swig.
- Both players drink if the bag stops exactly between them.
- Re-spin weak spins or fallen bags.
- Anyone can tap out without being heckled.
- Play outside, on flat ground, with water nearby.
Goon of Fortune vs. Slap the Bag
Slap the Bag is usually just slapping a wine bag before drinking from it. Goon of Fortune adds the spinning clothesline, which turns the bag into a random selector. Same boxed-wine energy, different mechanics.
Goon of Fortune is best as an outdoor party drinking game or weird backyard event. It can fit a Beer Olympics lineup, but only if you score it by eliminations or successful survives.
FAQ
What is Goon of Fortune?
Goon of Fortune is an Australian drinking game where boxed wine is attached to a spinning clothesline. Whoever it lands nearest drinks.
What does goon mean?
Goon usually means cheap boxed wine in Australian slang. The “goon bag” is the inner wine bladder.
Do you need a Hills Hoist?
A rotary clothesline is the traditional setup. A Hills Hoist-style line is ideal, but any safely spinning equivalent can work.
How do you win Goon of Fortune?
In elimination rules, the last player remaining wins. In casual rules, there may be no winner; the game ends when the bag is empty.
Can you play without alcohol?
Yes. Use a boxed non-alcoholic drink or attach a card with dares instead of wine.
Goon of Fortune in One Sentence
Goon of Fortune is a spinning backyard wine wheel where the clothesline chooses who drinks next.
