I voted a firm no.
Giving any living animal away to people as a prize is completely irresponsible.
The people getting it are un-prepaired, have not done any research, most won't even have a suitable tank. None of the people I know who have gotten goldfish at fairs are aware when they get them that a single fish needs 20 gallons minnimum, that they like to be in groups, that they should be treated exactly the same as tropicals but for the temperature (yes, a goldfish tank DOES need to be cycled!), that they grow to a foot and, most of all, that they can live to be 30 years old.
Whether the child is 'good' or 'bad' or likes the fish or is itnerested in them etc or not is COMPLETELY irrelevant. The fact is, with young children, it is always the parent that must be prepaired to take on teh responsibility. Unfortunately, with all the misinformation and the misconceptions surounding goldfish, most parents would be inclined to throw the goldfish in a bowl and forget about it. Shure they might get the child to feed it every day - but the goldfish also needs a big enough tank, a filter, a weekly water change, a gravel vacuum, water parameter checks and a visual check every now and then to ensure the fish is healthy. Besides, kids lose interest and most preffer 'cuddly' pets like rabbits or guinea pigs because they are more 'hands-on' and 'interactive'.
The 'pretty' little tanks you get the goldfish in may be attractive to look at but that doesn't mean they are good for the goldfish. It's like saying that because a dog crate is brightly colored it's fine to keep it in there permanently. Obviously, that's ridiculous. Aesthetics have absolutely nothing to do with the fish' well-being and keeping them in that sort of environment, limmiting their space to that extent, not meeting their basic requirements, not even taking the time to research their proper care before actualy taking one on is downright cruel and usualy results in the loss of a life. Maybe a goldfish life isn't important to some people. I, however, value it very much.
It isn't impossible to refuse the prize at a fair if it happens to be a live fish. I know parents will start bringing up how they feel sorry for their children or their children beg them to get it or start a tantrum. Fact is, what the child wants doesn't concern me - I'm not prepaired to sacrifice a life just because a child is going to do a little crying. They get over it. Next minute they'll be in the bouncy castle laughing and shouting. Not a care in the world.
I can't stand how people value goldfish less than other pets. I mean it isn't just a comparison between goldfish and rabbits or something - it's other fish as well. For example, goldfish get to about the same size as an oscar, yet somehow the minnimum tanks size for a goldfish is 20 gallons (even though they are active, social fish!). No-one who's done any research would keep an oscar in the same size tank! I mean, even danios get a better deal if you think about it (in proportion to their size)! I know the minnimum tank sizes etc are reasonable guidelines and I'm fine with that as I know it's not something that's going to be changing any time soon and, often, it just isn't practical BUT, when I see people who won't even meet the current, very modest, guidelines for keeping goldfish, it makes wonder what they are doing with a fish as a pet in the first place.
As for the argument that it attracts new fish-keepers into the hobby, if someone likes fish, they'll get interested anyway and will probably do some research first as well. They don't need to mis-treat a goldfish first and it certainly doesn't need to be one from a fair (the whole transport process etc is very stressful as well). My point is, let those people who love fish enjoy this hobby. Let those who don't care mind their own business. Don't involve parents and children who realy aren't interested in fish. They won't be serious or dedicated or prepaired to put the work into it. That just ends in tradgedy, unfortunately, always for the fish.
This is a subject I feel very strongly about. I'm very happy this completely inhumane practice has become illegal. Hopefuly people can now also start getting educated on how you SHOULD keep goldfish and we can forget all the old myths.
Sorry about the rant.
havent you ead all tho posts so if u think its ok to stunt a goldfish and it will have a premeture death because it hasnt got enough space to grow then 
mabe you shouldnt have thm
