Monopoly - Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ covers frequently asked questions about the board game Monopoly. Due in large part to the widespread popularity of Monopoly, many house rules have been developed over the years, some used by many players and others used only by a few.

The answers provided here relate to the official rules of Monopoly -- but you should feel free to make adjustments as you see fit, as long as all the players agree to them ahead of time.

Rules and Variants

• Are the official Monopoly rules available online?
• How can I make Monopoly more fun to play?
• What are the best rules variants for Monopoly?

Money

• Can I borrow money from another player?
• How much money does the bank have?
• What happens if the bank runs out of money?
• Is the amount of money a player has public knowledge?
• Can I print my own Monopoly money?

Building Houses and Hotels

• Do I have to build evenly?
• When can I buy houses and hotels?
• What happens if we run out of houses?

Property, Rent and Mortgages

• Are the properties a player owns public knowledge?
• Can I collect rent from other players while I'm in Jail?
• When I mortgage a property, what can I use the money for?
• If one property is mortgaged, what happens to others that I own in that color group?
• I own all four railroads, but one is mortgaged -- how much rent do I collect?

Deals with Other Players

• Can you trade for future considerations?
• Are side deals allowed between players?

Other Gameplay Questions

• When can I begin purchasing property?
• How much money do I win for landing on Free Parking?
• How do I calculate how much I owe for Income Tax?
• When moving around the board because of a card, do I still collect $200 if I pass Go?

History of Monopoly

• Who invented Monopoly?
• When was Monopoly first published?
• What tokens were originally included in the game? What tokens are included today?
• Have the property values on the board ever changed?
• In how many languages has Monopoly been published?

Special Editions and Collecting Monopoly

• How much are old Monopoly games worth?
• How many copies of Monopoly have been sold?
• How many special editions of Monopoly have been published?
• How can I buy a specific edition of Monopoly?

Miscellaneous

• Where can I buy replacement parts for my game?
• How do I enter an official Monopoly tournament?
• How can I play Monopoly online?

If you have any questions about the board game Monopoly which aren't answered in this FAQ, please post them in the About.com Board/Card Games Forum. You can get answers from gamers around the world.

Sources for the information in this FAQ include the official Monopoly rules, Hasbro, Monopoly.com, USAopoly, Ken Koury's Monopoly FAQ, and Richard Wilding's Monopoly FAQ.