FAQpage

What is this game "Pass the Pigs"? How do you play?

Pass the Pigs is a commercial version of the dice game, Pig. It was originally published under the name Pig Mania over 40 years ago. A miracle of modern engineering, it consists of rolling two rubber dice in the shape of pigs, each with one dot on their right side. The pigs land a certain way giving you a score for that roll. (See the scoring table on the Rules/Odds page). The object of the game is simple - the first player to 100 points wins! You can also play online by visiting the Online page.

Who the hell are you guys?

The National Pass The Pigs League (The NPPL) is a bunch of guys from South Jersey that moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and discovered the brilliant game of Pass the Pigs. Over the years, our small group of friends played just as an excuse to get together around the holidays, then gradually discovered other friends wanted to play too and thus, the NPPL was formed. The league has gradually grown bigger every year from its inception. For a more detailed answer go to our History page.

How can I get involved in the NPPL? And how do I start a Division of my own?

Everyone and their mother is encouraged to get involved with the NPPL – either by starting a division of their own, attending or playing in our Pig Madness tournaments, donating services, volunteering, or being a sponsor. The NPPL also encourages groupies for after our events.

The NPPL currently has a Western Division based in Los Angeles CA, a Midwest Division in Chicago, and an Eastern Division has recently been in talks to start up again in Philadelphia PA. If you are serious about starting your own division, just get your friends/players together for at least 2 tournaments per year, consistently notify the NPPL of your progress, and send pictures with results and current news and we will add your division to our league. Eventually we hope to get national attention and one day hold a National Championship in Las Vegas!! Click here to see the current rosters for the Eastern and Western Divisions.

The Western Division holds an annual party every summer in Venice Beach CA called Pig Madness. Pig Madness is an open invitation – anyone can play. In years past we’ve had friends fly in from Texas, Chicago, New York, Denver, Minnesota, and New Jersey just for the honor to play. There is a $50 entry fee to play in Pig Madness – all participants can enjoy unlimited food and liquor, and the winner receives $1,000 cash prize! You must be at least 21 - Click here to see more details.

Pig Madness is a huge event that takes hours of time and lots of work from multiple people to put together. Anyone wishing to volunteer their help or time would be greatly appreciated and possibly compensated – grillmaster, referee, camerawork, etc. Also, Pig Madness is a great event to sponsor – sponsor your favorite Master Player, promote your beer or foods or drinks, sponsor the NPPL or any of the tournaments, have your company logo on the t-shirts, etc. Imagine your company name: “The Nike Pig Madness Tournament, or the “NPPL sponsored by Nike” Click here for more details.

What is a "Master"?

As mentioned repeatedly throughout this website, The NPPL only exists because of it's original intention to bring friends together, have good times, and make new friends along the way. Given the NPPL has grown immensely since it's origins with the huge Pig Madness events, the "Masters" was developed as a way to keep alive the core friendships that brought this league together and continue to carry on the tradition and good times. They have been playing the game for years, started the NPPL, contribute to this website, continuously promote the game, and throw one helluva party every summer! The annual Masters tournament held every winter is for all the Masters (original members plus other great friends) that keep the Pigs tradition alive and continue to have fun using the game of Pass the Pigs as an excuse to bring together great friends. You can view the people on the Master's roster by clicking here. They may not be the best pig passers, the most classy or the best looking, but they are great friends and fun people that sometimes need a "Pass the Pigs" tournament to stay in touch more often than usual, which suits them just fine.

I think your league is for immature assholes – am I wrong?

Yes, you most certainly are wrong. Ok maybe not, but we’re not as immature as you might think. The core friends that formed and have carried this league over the years are basically guys that simply like to have fun and will use just about any excuse at all to get their friends together and have a good time. Not only does the league keep us in touch with each other more often, but it has grown to the point that every summer at Pig Madness we have a huge party with kegs, catered food, liquor, and eventually all-out debauchery – just because of Pigs! The NPPL is first and foremost an excuse to bring together friends – and it’s a great time at every event so the league continues on…

What is the next event I can be included in?

Pig Madness VI will be held in Venice Beach California in the summer of 2010 where there will be a $1,000 cash prize. Click here for the details. Also, check out the tournaments page for other events.

Why Pass the Pigs? Why not Scrabble or Battleship?

Have you played Pass the Pigs asshole? Seriously!

I don’t live in the United States? Can I still form a Division to be recognized by the NPPL?

Yes. We encourage human beings from all over the world to form their divisions and join our league – Chinese, Spaniards, Italians, Brazilians, and even the French. Just check out our World of Pigs page! One day we hope to have a World Cup of Pigs which will surely be bigger than that other World Cup thing we hear about every four years. In 2008, Western Division master Mark Rago introduced the Pigs to the Chinese – see picture on the left.

If you are serious about starting your own division, just get your friends/players together for at least 2 tournaments per year, consistently notify the NPPL of your progress, and send pictures with results and current news and we will add your division to our league.