People are just realising they’ve been playing Monopoly incorrectly

The classic board game Monopoly, often thought to be endless, actually has a conclusion that doesn’t just revolve around the usual squabbles over banking duties or rent disputes after landing on another player’s property.

Despite the myriad of themed editions like The Simpsons, Fortnite, and even Bass Fishing, the core rules remain consistent. The official guidelines cover scenarios such as the bank running out of money and the ability to collect while in jail.

A TikTok user, Tanner, has settled age-old family arguments by highlighting some lesser-known official rules, suggesting they should take precedence over individual ‘house rules’. And National Play Monopoly Day (November 19), is the perfect time to brush up on the official rules.

Going viral for his insights, Tanner explained: “Over the Christmas period, it’s likely you’ll bust out the Monopoly board at least once. But you’ve probably been playing by house rules instead of the official ones.”

He then shared a brief rundown of the actual rules, leaving many astonished at the overlooked aspects of the game they had replaced with their own versions.

One key rule Tanner pointed out, which might come as a surprise to many, is regarding the purchase of properties: “You can start buying property straight away. You don’t have to go around the board once beforehand.”

Another rule clarified the purpose of the Free Parking space. Tanner noted that many players believe “all the taxes go in the middle, and the person who lands on Free Parking gets it all,” but that’s incorrect.

“Free Parking is just a normal square that doesn’t do anything,” he added. According to another official rule, when a player declines to buy a property, it is put up for auction, allowing other players to bid on it.

He explained: “According to the official rules, when a property is landed on, and nobody wants to buy it, that property goes to auction.”

A fourth official rule confirms that players can earn money while incarcerated. He explained: “You can earn money while in jail: In the official rules, you simply can’t go around the board or buy anything.”

Some players may assume that landing on “Go” comes with a reward, such as extra money, but this is not mentioned in the official rules, as revealed by Tanner.

Another disputed rule concerns what happens when a player goes bankrupt. It is not the bank that receives their property and remaining cash, but rather the player to whom they owe money.