“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes” is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying usually doesn’t refer to “stupid games,” but rather “stupid actions,” and the “stupid prizes” are bad consequences. If one plays “stupid games” (stupid actions or decisions) with the police or the military, one could get injured or killed.
 
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes” has been cited in print since at least 2008. Authorship of the saying is unknown.
   
     
Wiktionary: play stupid games, win stupid prizes       
Proverb
play stupid games, win stupid prizes
1. (humorous) If one makes poor decisions one should expect negative consequences.
Usage notes
Most often in response to violent or humiliating outcomes of poor decisions.
 
The Survival Forum 
Re: Knives I own
nursetime
#86676 - 02/25/07 05:52 PM
Sicily02- I like your tastes in blades. I would love to have those.
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Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
     
Binary Revolution Forums
Gas Gang Uses ‘Never-Before-Seen’ Device To Hack, Steal From P
carwash
Posted June 20, 2008
One bad thing that I use to do was to steal the gas pump stickers while I was filling up.
I still have a whole collection of them stored away in a book
OCTANE.gif
Play stupid games/win stupid prizes hahah Happy Friday
 
Google Groups: microsoft.public.excel.misc
Anyone screwed over with student loans?
Anoxopesype
10/18/08
(...)
Anoxopesype
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. ‘lori independent escort’
(http://bestanimeclub.com/lezbo-lesbiens/)
 
AR15.com Discussion Forums
“Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes…”
WesJanson
Posted: 2/3/2009 7:33:39 PM EST [Last Edit: 2/3/2009 7:53:43 PM EST by WesJanson]
Where did this quote originate from? I’ve heard it before from various places, but never any sort of indication as to who or where it originated from. Military? LE? Some random-ass forummer lost to the annals of arfcom history? Bueller?
 
Twitter 
ihop
@petenet71
play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  http://tinyurl.com/cbebmx
6:39 PM - 20 Mar 2009
   
Twitter
John Reason
@JohnRsn
Replying to @Rowen_Windsong
@Rowen_Windsong Yep, the one was clearing his weapon, and shot himself.. lol Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
11:49 AM - 23 Apr 2009
   
Twitter
Joel Wymer
@smartmoney_4U
If you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. Free market capitalism still the best system we have: http://bit.ly/C1XEn
4:09 PM - 12 Aug 2009
   
Twitter
noworldorder
@noworldorder
Re: Police in Standoff in Front of Federal Building in L.A- play stupid games, win stupid prizes http://bit.ly/i7BQC
10:37 PM - 13 Aug 2009
 
Reddit—OutOfTheLoop
Posted byu/bigdog647382 February 26, 2017
Where did the phrase “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes” come from?
Unanswered
COMMENTS
catiebug
The Internet consensus is ‘no one really knows’. Just one of those things.
 
bearjew293
Sadly, I’ve seen it used a lot whenever there’s a news story involving police brutality. There’s always at least one asshole defending the cop’s actions by blaming the victim, using this exact phrase.
     
,a href=“https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/o-t-lounge/can-we-please-ban-the-phrase-play-stupid-games-win-stupid-prizes/69131190/”>Tiger Droppings—O-T Lounge
Can we please ban the phrase “Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes”?
Motorboat
Posted on 3/14/17 at 12:58 pm
It really grinds my gears and is way overused
 
YouTube
Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes
Task & Purpose
Published on Mar 13, 2018
“Now the Marine Corp has a lot of famous phrases, things like “OK motivator” or “At ease, devil dog” and also “Play stupid games and you win stupid prizes.”