Monopoly ditches cash, goes plastic

While Monopoly is the paragon of good 'ole fashioned board game fun, the "old fashioned" part had to go. Parker Brothers is phasing out the cash-based version's funmoney and replacing it with an "Electronic Banking" flavor that could leave Mr. Moneybags turning his pockets inside out as his stash is replaced by a magnetic strip. New kits are completely devoid of the famous multi-colored bills; instead, you'll find phoney Visa debit cards and a calculator / reader which keeps a running tabulation of your riches -- or lack thereof. A deal was struck with Visa to design the mock cards and readers, presumably after surveys showed that 70% of adults used cash less often now than they did a decade ago (no surprise there). When asked about the dramatic change, Parker said replacing cash with plastic "showed the game was moving with the times." For those anxious to get their swipe on, or if you've simply forgotten how to use bills, the new version will set you back £24.99, while the now "antiquated" cash version can be had for £12.99, but only while supplies last.

[Revrant @ Jul 24th 2006 10:04PM]

Are they really that out of ideas?

Well, on the bright side, no more cheating!

[Mind Shift @ Jul 24th 2006 10:07PM]

geez, first they talk about phasing out the pennies in the US, now their phasing out cash all together in Monopoly? Well...i guess their effort for moving on with the times was done well lol.

[Dustin @ Jul 24th 2006 10:08PM]

No joke: I literally read this as Microsoft ditches cash, goes plastic. :(

[Zadillo @ Jul 24th 2006 10:08PM]

I've got to say this kind of seems lame. I actually remember that playing monopoly as a kid actually helped a bit with math and perhaps even with the idea of handling money. Having to sit there and add up the money, etc. was pretty fun anyway. Seems kind of goofy to have to use a credit card or whatever. Although one perk I guess would be not running out of monopoly money. Still, I hope the regular monopoly money version of this game is still available somehow.

[Vin @ Jul 24th 2006 10:19PM]

I like the subtle branding that Visa managed to get on the electronic banking unit.

[n2 @ Jul 24th 2006 10:21PM]

The money is what makes the game FUN. With a credit card, now how do you know how much money you have available at a glance? Do you have to wait for your monthly bank statement? I'm assuming when you pass GO you now have direct deposit. I wonder what interest and bank fees are involved.

[Christian @ Jul 24th 2006 10:28PM]

Geez, no wonder our kids won't be able to do math. They will never notice with the Diebolt 2015 Cash Delivery System starts charging a 50% service fee.

[Don't Panic! @ Jul 24th 2006 10:35PM]

I think it's brilliant! Board game hackers can't be far behind They'll be called Brackers...

[Pinkerton @ Jul 24th 2006 10:36PM]

Hey, I own Meditarranean Avenue. What?? You want to pay me $2 with Visa?? Sheesh, never mind, get the hell off my property.

[Charlie @ Jul 24th 2006 10:36PM]

They should take this all the way and have bar codes on the property titles so the exact amount is charged for purchase, mortgage and paying off the mortgage (Who wants to have to figure out the 10% fee when you have plastic?)

Or better yet, RFID in the tokens and houses/hotels so rent is automatically deducted from the payer.

IMHO - My kids and I will always play with the colored money.

[Brandon @ Jul 24th 2006 10:39PM]

You can print your own replacement money from Hasbro's site...
http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/pl/page.treasurechest/dn/default.cfm

It can help when you're getting a little low on funds, excuse yourself to make a little popcorn, print off a page of $50s.

[Paul @ Jul 24th 2006 10:42PM]

These guys had it first:
http://www.uneasysilence.com/archive/2006/07/7102/

[diulei @ Jul 24th 2006 10:46PM]

Gettin the corporate logo into the kids' heads as early as possible, right?

[Motoxo @ Jul 24th 2006 10:53PM]

What about visa's service charge fee??? Where's the reality in that?

[Ashton Tibbitt @ Jul 24th 2006 10:54PM]

This is a sad, sad, sad day.

Every Christmas Eve me and my family sit down at the table and play Monopoly. Its a tradition. We play until we cannot sit up anymore(funnier in the morning too when our parents don't want to get up!LOL).

Playing with money was the best part. I would play on a "team" with my mom and my sister with my dad. We would "loan" money to each other...

There is no fun left now.

I know that it was kinda lame that you could only play monopoly once because(little brothers would open the box and lose all the money or eat it) all the money would be gone. Thats was ok though.

Money is what made it fun.

Shame on you Parker Brothers. Shame on you.....

[Jason @ Jul 24th 2006 11:18PM]

This is so awesome. No more messing with a big mess of cash :)

[Alex @ Jul 24th 2006 11:20PM]

Great idea! Let's teach kids that you can just swipe a card and everything is paid for. This is why the majority of Americans are $30k in debt -- because they're stupid and don't realize that when they swipe the AmEx card they are actually spending money (that they often do not have).

[Sean @ Jul 24th 2006 11:33PM]

Flipping lamest thing I've ever seen. I hope Visa and Parker Brothers both die tomorrow.

[Myles @ Jul 24th 2006 11:38PM]

OH GOD! Please tell me that it is April 1st. PLEASE. Some how I must have messed up every calendar I come in contact with, my summer vacation isn't really happening and I'm still in school.

They just did this to save money.

[bairmik @ Jul 24th 2006 11:41PM]

Paper money is the way to go. Having all of those stacks of money layed out and tucked under the edge of the board simply for the intimidation value...you can't throw off other players games by waving a plastic card at them...they have to be able to see the quantity of deep sh*t they are in at all times.

[evo @ Jul 24th 2006 11:49PM]

This is the New Coke of board games. It won't last. Or at least they'll charge you extra for a paper-money pack.

[tekdroid @ Jul 25th 2006 12:01AM]

Looks like VISA has the monopoly on the Monopoly market. Personally, I have no interest in paying for games where sponsors are in my face. I paid for the game. It should be free from advertising.

I fail to see why the paper-money version has to be phased out. That's what makes it fun and tangible. Again, VISA no doubt smiling all the way. Parker Brothers management have no clue whatsoever. This decision will be reversed.

[Matt @ Jul 25th 2006 12:43AM]

If i tallied this up right, that makes 2 for the idea and 15 against (16 counting me). If I didn't mind being possibly banned from engadget blogs, I would lenghten this up w/ a few strong obsceneties at both Parker Brothers and VISA. This is hands down the second lamest idea I have ever heard (first was the Nintendo "Wii", but thats another blog).

[Vince C @ Jul 25th 2006 1:08AM]

To see that I was pwning with my large stash of cash was the only fun thing about the game.

So, what's next? Hm...how about cc's in poker? =]

[Blacklight @ Jul 25th 2006 2:07AM]

Oh thats just lame. Not only did they go and make it electronical cashola, but they had to go and stick Visa on it too :(
Half the fun of Monopoly was to cheat, and mess around with the money.
A turn for the worse I say.

[Oddmanout @ Jul 25th 2006 2:29AM]

"Well, on the bright side, no more cheating!"

But the cheating is what makes it fun. Half the fun is changing the rules and doing outrageous things ($500 for landing on free parking anyone ?). Besides, as one other poster mentioned, this games helps young ones learn simple math and other life lessons. After all...

Cheating is a part of life. And so is being cheated. Forewarned is forearmed.

Besides, without the cash the kids of the future won't know the joy of successfully completing a deal with a vicious opponent to aqcuire the green monoply, thus using all available cash. Well, actually that's not so great...the fun part is then pulling out the massive wad of cash you had squirreled away under the table that had your oponent known you had it, would NEVER have agreed to the deal. Watching his/her 'top of the world' sneer turn to ashes as they eye your knot, right before the hotels start blooming like mushrooms clouds.

Sliding a card can't replace that...

I agree with 'tekdroid', there's no reason to do away with the money (even if you can print your own). They didn't 86 the physical version of the game when the various forms of monopoly started appearing on computers and console systems, why do this ? Just offer the stupid card thing as an accessory one can CHOOSE to buy.

If anything they should computerize the DICE so you don't slowly bounce hotels and houses off their proper spaces...or knock them over all together.

Then again...blowing on a 6x6 digital randomizer doesn't have the Las Vegas chic of blowing on dice...

Bah...it's a board game...just leave it old school...

[Dominic @ Jul 25th 2006 2:40AM]

Boy this sucks, I was just playing Monopoly a few weeks ago, and I loved flashing all the cash that I had in their faces, and at the end of the game its always fun to have a money fight. So now what? I flash a debit card into my oponents faces, when each of us have the exact same card, with the same number? Where's the fun in that? And what if you loose all your money, and have mortaged yourself out to the max? What your opponent cuts up your card? I mean what about the monthly fees, APR and all that crud, "Okay collect 200 dollars for passing GO, oh wait I am sorry sir you have been having too many late fees lately, I am afraid you can't have this money." Heck they even had to get VISA involved! "Monopoly a subsidary of VISA INC." Ugh, just makes you want to take your credit card and cut it up into a billion tiny pieces.

[Your Friend Billy Zane @ Jul 25th 2006 3:17AM]

This is rubbish. I'm with the majority of all the other posts - the money is the best thing about Monopoly.

Oh - thanks for the link Brandon. I'm going to print out about £100,000 worth of bills and have them stuck up my sleeves for the next game on Christmas Day.

[Special_K @ Jul 25th 2006 3:44AM]

How will Americans mock our colourful Canadian currency? Monopoly money is the quintessential symbol of boardgames (well, that and the little Monopoly pieces, which will be phased out in favour of some sort of brainwave-based, McDonalds-branded system). While I think this is a novel idea, and would fly if sold as a different version of Monopoly, a credit card system replacing the cash is a solution looking for a problem, and it's a s****y solution at that. Oh, and what about lost cards? Do we have to report it stolen to Visa, the pay an unreasonable sum for a replacement.

[John Russell @ Jul 25th 2006 3:58AM]

Paper money will always have a place in my heart.

[DT @ Jul 25th 2006 6:07AM]

So much for playing Monopoly all Shabbos :-(

[vivid @ Jul 25th 2006 6:44AM]

I like the idea. Can't wait to get one of these.

[jpwb @ Jul 25th 2006 6:48AM]

board game - £24.99
christmas wrapper - £1.99
the look on the faces of the kids when the board says that their credit score doesn't let them have a credit card...priceless.

oh, wait, wrong card...dammit.

[JON @ Jul 25th 2006 7:24AM]

NOTHING MORE THAN AN ADVERTISING GIMMICK BY VISA THAT THE FAILING MONOPOLY BEAN COUNTERS HOPE WILL REVITALIZE THE COMPANY YOU NEVER CHANGE A WINNING PROGRAM

[Tulio @ Jul 25th 2006 8:31AM]

So what company is going to start selling monopoly cash on the side? I think it is pretty cool, but I always like seeing how much cash my opponent has on them. So when will the board be electrified and whenever my playing piece land on board walk it automatically subtract the fee. Pretty soon you won't have to do anything but roll the dice or they might make that electric as well.

[John @ Jul 25th 2006 8:31AM]

This is such a stupid idea. They'll reverse it when either (a) their sales decreases or (b) they get enough complaints.

And y'all are talking about how the corporate advertising is bad... What about the many versions of Monopoly that are based on different things, like Star Wars, Pokemon, etc.

[Andrew @ Jul 25th 2006 8:35AM]

I got this electronic banking edition of Monopoly about a week ago so the terminal is not new news... just the fact that Hasbro have decided to get rid of the Monoploy Money all together. If you have any questions about please ask and I will be happy to anwser them!

[duestown @ Jul 25th 2006 9:15AM]

I just sent this story off to my friend at the NY Daily News. This mayhem must stop before it starts.

[furby @ Jul 25th 2006 9:42AM]

Hey Andrew, Can you still cheat? What happens when you past GO?

I would almost go and buy this out of curiosity, but I would miss waving my fotune in peoples faces.

[Diane @ Jul 25th 2006 9:44AM]

I have to agree with Alex above, this is a bad idea.. teaching children to use a credit card :(. It's bad enough most parents don't teach their kids anything about how to use credit responsibly.. mostly because too many parents don't do it themselves ! The TRILLIONS - yes with a "T", of consumer credit card debt in the US is staggering, and getting worse every day. Credit card companies prey on kids on college campuses to lure them into using plastic.. and sinking themselves into more debt on top of crushing student loans.

Noo.. this is a stupid idea. I understand modernization, but it seems pretty obvious by the opinions here that the funny money was THE fun part of the game ! I happen to agree.

Hmm.. gee.. maybe if they built in REAL WORLD credit usage pitfalls.. like going over your limit, or overdrafting your Debit card.. nosebleed default interest rates and .. have the phone ring from a nasty debt collector when you're past due .. just a thought. ;)

SHOW ME THE MONEY !!! lol

[Z @ Jul 25th 2006 9:45AM]

Fake money or fake plastic?

Well, let's think about this for a minute...


Hold up your fake piece of plastic.

Now hold up and fan all your $500 and $100 bills.

Which makes you feel rich? Which one makes you feel pimpin', sucka?

The CASH, baby!


A handful of big bills are always more impressive than plastic. And since the idea of Monopoly is to acquire as much wealth as you can, the cash is a major part of what makes the game so fun. You have something tangible to hold and feel, fan and show off - wealth the other players can see with their own eyes without you saying a word. A stupid fake credit card won't mean jack.

The problem with Parker Brothers is, every so many years, they must see a lag in Monopoly sales, so they come up with some twist on the game in an effort to stir up consumers' interest again. But the last time they tried doing this with a gadget, they came up with that stupid Monopoly Playmaster which was an absolute piece of crap that ended up tanking miserably.

This stupid thing will fail, too, just like the Playmaster.

Parker Brothers apparently doesn't realize that Monopoly is a game and not real life, therefore what we do out in the real world doesn't automatically transfer over and gel well with the game.

If they actually try to phase out cash versions of this game and attempt to replace them with this stupid thing, when it fails and sales drop like a rock, they'll do a Homer - DOH! - and start releasing cash versions again.

[Tony Rayo @ Jul 25th 2006 10:17AM]

I'm kind of sad to see this because I think a lot of kids learned a lot about finance and making mental transations in their head from this game. Then again, since so many transations are done by credit card these days, I guess this they are just changing with the times. Still kind of sad, and I'm only 20... I'm sure this will break the hearts of some 40 - 50 year olds out there.

- Tony R.

[Z @ Jul 25th 2006 10:23AM]

Oh yes, I forgot to address one other thing...


They say that "the game is moving with the times."

Are they serious? How long have credit cards been out now? Well, let's see. They were first introduced as we know them sometime in the late 50's, really caught on in the early 70's, and became ubiquitous by around 1980 or so. So plastic has been around somewhere between 25 and 50 years, depending on how you look at it.

Yeah, way to keep up with the times, Parker Brothers.


I think Parker Brothers has too many slow moving greybeards at the top and this is their way of feebly trying to fool consumers into thinking that Parker Brothers isn't actually made up of dinosaurs who lack imagination.

PB, how about coming up with something truly creative for Monopoly for once? I can think of some really great ideas that would bring the game into the 21st century.

But too bad the people with all the decisive power have no ideas, and the people with all the ideas don't work for you - and if they did, wouldn't be listened to, anyway.

You could always run a contest and ask people to submit their new ideas to revamp Monopoly, ya know. And then give the winning contestant a percentage of all sales.

Just a thought. (Hint, hint...)

[spy @ Jul 25th 2006 10:47AM]

How sad. In a few years our kids won't even be able to do simple addition or subtraction without the assistance of a calculator or computer device. And forget about the multiplication needed when you get the card "You are assessed for street repairs – $40 per house, $115 per hotel."

[hofo_mofo @ Jul 25th 2006 10:50AM]

Yay no more running out of money!! and finally i can burn those 1s and 5s lol

[B. Minich @ Jul 25th 2006 11:07AM]

This will most likely take away my favorite modification to the game rules: having everyone pay taxes, fees, etc. to Free Parking, so that Free Parking effectively becomes "TAX REFUND DAY!!!!"

[ZoogieBoogieDoo @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:25PM]

Oh ya.. Reply to not being able to land on free parking and get all that loot and wishing everytime you pass that thing you would have landed on it, especially if your in last place! Well aren't you moded :) I am personally for the game and loving every minute of it. I also like that wad of cash but my brother always bends, rips, and tears the crap. What am i gonaa do now hah? Spend 10 minutes straightening out dollar bills? well i dont feel like it. Yay for monopoly and back to free parking problem. Just transfer that tax whenever you have to pay to another card tha no one is using(zero it out first then add the 500k start off)and there you go. When you land on free parking..tada! Just transfer the money from that card to yours and then add 500k to the other card again. Yay, Conincha @%@*%!& and before i leave I have no idea hot to spell Conincha so its propably wrong. Bye Suckas!

[Galley @ Jul 25th 2006 11:10AM]

Apparently this is only available in the forth-coming "Here and Now" version. All other versions will retain good old hard currency.

[CaseCom @ Jul 25th 2006 12:38PM]

The BBC says the cash version is NOT being discontinued and will continue to be sold alongside the electronic version:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5212732.stm

Looking at Google News it seems that several British outlets have run the story, but it hasn't shown up stateside. Maybe this is a UK-only thing.

[John Guilfoil @ Jul 25th 2006 12:51PM]

I don't think they are totally phasing the "money" out of the game. The electronic/debit card version has been seen as part of the "Then and Now" version, a variant of the game featuring modern day things like cell phones and such.