After 10 Years McDonald’s Is Bringing Back the Monopoly Game
After a ten-year hiatus, McDonald’s is reviving its iconic Monopoly promotion starting October 6, 2025, with new app-driven features and a big prize pool. Fans can pre-register now for bonus rewards and prepare to peel physical or digital game pieces from select menu items. The comeback blends nostalgia with modern safeguards and more ways to win.
Why The Promotion Paused
The promotion went dark in the U.S. after the McMillions fraud scheme, when insiders manipulated the game and millions in prizes were stolen. That scandal prompted McDonald’s to suspend large promotional sweeps while it overhauled security and oversight. The brand says today’s relaunch includes tighter controls designed to prevent past abuses.
How the 2025 Game Works
Players register in the McDonald’s app, opt into the promotion, and then order eligible items to receive either physical peel-off pieces or digital game pieces. Physical pieces appear on packaging and can be scanned in the app; digital pieces are delivered straight to your phone when you order through the app or use your Rewards code. Collected properties can unlock bigger prizes, and a bonus-play period runs through November 2 for extra chances to win.
Prizes Up for Grabs
The prize pool mixes small, frequent wins with headline jackpots: expect free food, MyMcDonald’s Rewards points, large cash prizes (including a $1 million top prize), a 2026 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, one million AAdvantage® miles, vacations, and shopping sprees. There are also lots of food prizes, everything from biscuits to double cheeseburgers, so many players will walk away with something. Full details and the official prize list are available on the game’s rules page.
What’s New This Time
The biggest change is digital integration: the app manages registration, delivers digital pieces, and hosts the bonus play, which reduces reliance on physical codes and makes fraud harder. That shift modernizes the ritual of peeling while giving McDonald’s real-time monitoring of game activity. In short, the classic format is preserved but retooled for a more secure, trackable experience.
Fan Favorites That Earn Pieces
More than 30 menu items qualify for game pieces, including staples such as the Quarter Pounder® with Cheese, Egg McMuffin®, and large fries, meaning regular orders are chances to play. Both breakfast and daytime menu items are included, expanding the game across dayparts. That mix helps the promotion reach a wide swath of customers.
How to Play Without Buying Anything
If you don’t want to purchase food, there’s still a route to play: McDonald’s provides a no-purchase-necessary entry path so anyone can participate by mail under the official sweepstakes rules. That keeps the contest accessible and compliant with sweepstakes law while preserving the promotional drive for customers who do buy.
The App’s Role and Loyalty Tie-ins
The MyMcDonald’s app is the promotion hub — it stores digital pieces, powers bonus plays, and ties wins to Rewards points that can be redeemed for free items. That creates an immediate payoff (instant winners) and longer-term engagement (Rewards and follow-up offers). For McDonald’s, the app turns a seasonal stunt into a loyalty play.
Why Fans Are Excited
Monopoly taps nostalgia, instant gratification, and the real possibility of a life-changing prize — a heady mix that excites longtime players and newcomers alike. The addition of more digital ways to win and immediate app engagement makes playing easier than ever. For many, it’s a seasonal tradition returned with modern bells and whistles.
The Comeback of a Classic
Bringing Monopoly back lets McDonald’s reconnect with customers through a familiar ritual refreshed for the digital age. The promotion balances big prizes, app convenience, and new security measures — a sign the brand believes it can preserve the fun while preventing past abuses. Whether you’re chasing free fries or the million-dollar top prize, the game’s return is a nostalgic moment retooled for today.
