How to Play White Elephant Online
Planning a virtual holiday party doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s how you can play your favorite holiday gift-swapping game virtually this year. Perfect for remote teams, hybrid offices and company holiday parties.
Step 1
Create your game and invite your group
Set up your game in minutes
Choose your game name, event date, and time. You can customize settings to fit your team’s preferences—whether you’re planning ahead or organizing something last-minute.Share your invite link
Send your unique link so participants can join easily. Our platform is fully self-service, so you can host your event whenever and with whomever you like.Have players submit a gift
Participants add a gift by posting a link from any online retailer or uploading a photo of something they already have. Each gift is “wrapped” virtually and revealed during the game. Players don’t need to purchase the gift until after the exchange.Use admin tools for a hands-off setup.
Prefer to manage everything yourself? Advanced options let organizers pre-load gifts for all players so everyone can simply show up and play.
Takes less than two minutes to set up - no downloads required.
It’s game time!
On Game Day, everyone joins a video call
Bring your team together on your preferred platform (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.).One person serves as the Game Lead
They’ll share their screen and click to unwrap and steal gifts as the game plays out. Other players can log in to follow along and see their number, but it’s optional.The platform does the heavy lifting
Once the game starts, our system automatically assigns numbers and walks you step-by-step through each turn—no tracking or rule-keeping required on your part.After the fun wraps up, players are notified of next steps
Everyone receives a message confirming what they’ve won and next steps. Gifts are purchased or sent only after the game is done.
Step 2
Experience how the game works with a Demo Game before hosting your own event!
Step 3
Distribute the gifts and celebrate
Decide how gifts will be handled
You have complete flexibility in how gifts are purchased and sent. While the transactions happen outside the platform, we make it easy to ensure every player receives their gift smoothly.Choose from six Gift Distribution options
Whether you prefer that players send their own gifts or a central admin coordinates fulfillment, we’ve got you covered. Each option includes built-in guidance for both players and organizers. For a detailed breakdown of all six Gift Distribution Options and how they work, read more here.Automatic next-step communication
No matter which option you select, the platform clearly communicates instructions to every participant and provides both the Game Admin and players with all the details they need.
See all of our gift distribution methods in action and find the best fit for your team.
Ready to host your own game?
Bring your team together for a fun, easy, and memorable virtual gift exchange — no planning headaches required. White Elephant Online handles the setup, the rules, and the follow-up, so you can focus on what matters: connecting your team and celebrating together.
Set up your first game in minutes — no credit card or commitment required.
🎁 White Elephant Rules
White Elephant (also known as Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa) is a classic holiday gift exchange game that’s equal parts strategy, surprise, and laughter. Everyone has their own take on the rules, but here’s how the game is typically played—with a few popular variations that our platform supports.
🧠 Overview
White Elephant is all about having fun with your group—whether that’s coworkers, friends, or family. Each player brings one wrapped gift, and everyone draws a number to determine the order of play. One by one, players take turns unwrapping a new gift or stealing one that’s already been opened. The game continues until every person ends up with a gift.
🛠️ Setup
Before the fun begins, pick a date and time and invite your group. It’s also common to set a dollar limit (e.g. $20–$25) so everyone brings a gift of similar value.
Some groups like to add a theme—like “only items you already own,” “books and board games,” or “something impractical but hilarious.” Or skip the theme and enjoy a mix of everything—it’s up to you!
▶️ Gameplay
1. Draw numbers
Each player is randomly assigned a number. Higher numbers usually mean more options at the end… but there’s a twist.
2. #1 goes first
The first player opens any wrapped gift—no stealing yet.
3. Each player takes a turn
In number order, players either:
Open a new gift
Steal an already-opened gift from someone else
If your gift is stolen, you immediately choose another (either choosing to unwrap a new gift or stealing from someone who has already unwrapped). This continues until someone opens a new gift, ending the round. Note: You typically can’t steal back the same gift in the same round.
4. Bonus twist: #1 goes again!
After everyone has had a turn, player #1 may keep their gift or swap it with anyone.
🔄 Popular Variations
Looking to shake things up? Here are a few common house rules:
Each gift can only be stolen 3 times
Each person can only be stolen from 3 times
No ‘round-robin’ stealing: If your gift is stolen, you must unwrap a new one
Limited round-robin: Only 3 steals allowed per round, total
These rules keep the game fast-paced and fun—especially in large groups.
🎯 Strategy Tips
Adding these limits makes the game more dynamic. A gift can become “locked” once it hits its steal limit, so there's often a scramble to be the last person to grab a popular item. And sometimes, an early number turns out better than a late one!
💼 Why It’s Great for Teams
White Elephant is easy to learn, quick to set up, and a guaranteed hit with any group. It’s a fantastic way to bond, share laughs, and make your holiday gathering memorable—especially for distributed or hybrid teams. And with White Elephant Online, we handle all of the variations and rule-management, so you can sit back and have a stress-free event with your team.
Ready to bring the fun to your next team event?
With all the rules and variations fresh in your mind, why not bring them to life with a virtual game your team will actually enjoy?