McDonald’s Brings Back Monopoly Game After 10 Years With Major Digital Makeover

by john zurcher

October 1, 2025

America News World

After a decade-long absence, McDonald’s is reviving one of its most beloved promotions—the Monopoly game—with a significant digital overhaul that moves the classic peel-and-play experience primarily to the smartphone app. The game launches nationwide on October 6, 2025, marking the return of what was once a cultural phenomenon that now incorporates modern technology while maintaining the nostalgic “thrill of the peel” .

_{McDonald’s Monopoly returns after a decade with digital makeover (Image: Reuters)}

How to Play: Digital-First Experience

The familiar physical game boards that customers used to track their property collections are gone, replaced by a completely digital experience within the McDonald’s app. Here’s how the new game works:

· Registration: Players must download the McDonald’s app, opt into the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program, and register for the Monopoly game. Those who pre-register between September 29 and October 5 receive 500 bonus Rewards points .
· Game Pieces: There are two ways to obtain game pieces. Physical stickers appear on qualifying menu items like large fry boxes and drink cups, while digital pieces are automatically awarded when ordering through the app .
· Playing: Physical pieces must be scanned through the app, while digital pieces can be “peeled” directly within the application. Each game piece entry also triggers a Bonus Play for an additional chance to win .
· No Purchase Option: For those who don’t want to buy food, free game pieces can be requested online at amoe.playatmcd.com .

The game continues through November 2, 2025, though players have until November 23 to redeem any collected game pieces .

Prize Structure: From Free Food to Million-Dollar Dreams

McDonald’s is offering an extensive prize portfolio through multiple winning methods:

Table: Major Prize Categories

Prize Type Examples How to Win
Instant Wins Free food, Reward points Immediate reveal when playing pieces
Property Collection 1M airline miles, $10K Lowe’s spree, vacations Complete color-coded property sets
Bonus Play $1M cash, Jeep Grand Cherokee, TVs Second-chance game after each play

The coveted $1 million cash prize is available through the Bonus Play feature, payable as $50,000 annually over 20 years . Other significant prizes include 1 million American Airlines AAdvantage miles, 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited vehicles, and $10,000 Lowe’s shopping sprees .

Best Buy has joined as an official prize partner, offering Samsung OLED televisions and gift cards through the Bonus Play and property collection features .

What You Can Order to Play

The game features over 30 eligible menu items across all dayparts, including:

· Breakfast: Egg McMuffins, Breakfast Wraps, Hash Browns
· Lunch/Dinner: Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets, Large Fries
· Drinks & Desserts: McCafé beverages, McFlurries, Soft Drinks

Learning from a Colorful Past

The Monopoly game’s return comes with historical baggage. In what became known as the “McMillions” scandal, a massive fraud scheme operated between 1989 and 2001 resulted in the theft of over $20 million in prizes .

The ringleader, Jerome Jacobson—a security official at the marketing firm that ran the game—stole high-value game pieces and distributed them to friends and family who would claim prizes and kick back portions to him . The scheme was uncovered by an FBI investigation in 2001 and later documented in an HBO series .

The current digital-focused approach incorporates additional safeguards, with all game pieces now processed through the McDonald’s app under stricter security controls .

Business Strategy: Boosting Sales and Loyalty

The revival serves dual purposes for McDonald’s: stimulating sales growth while expanding its valuable loyalty program. The chain recently reported a 2.5% sales increase for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, ending two consecutive quarters of decline .

CEO Chris Kempczinski revealed that loyalty members now account for roughly 25% of U.S. business and visit more than twice as frequently after joining the program . With a global goal of reaching 250 million active loyalty users by 2027, the Monopoly promotion represents a significant opportunity to attract new members .

The McDonald’s Monopoly game originally launched in 1987 and last appeared in the U.S. in 2014 (as “Money Monopoly” in 2016), though it has continued in international markets during the American hiatus