Jennifer GaengOct 3, 2025 4 min read

McDonald's Monopoly Is Back After 10 Years

McDonald’s Monopoly is back—millions will play, but most will walk away with fries, not fortunes.

McDonald's is bringing back Monopoly on October 6 after a decade-long break. Remember peeling those game pieces off your fries just to get free fry? Yeah, that’s back.

But here's what's different: they're adding digital game pieces through the app alongside the classic peel-off ones.

The Prizes Sound Impressive Until You Think About It

They're advertising "epic prizes" like a million American Airlines miles, a $50,000 vacation to a Monopoly GO! location, and a $10,000 Lowe's shopping spree. The grand prize is either a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee or $1 million cash.

Sounds amazing, right? Sure, millions of people will play and maybe five will win big. But for the rest of us? Maybe there's a free small fry in the cards, if we're lucky.

How It Actually Works

Download the McDonald's app and register through the Rewards section. If you pre-register between September 29 and October 5, you get 500 bonus points. Which is worth about $5 in free food, so don't get too excited.

Starting October 6, you order from over 30 "eligible menu items" and get game pieces - either physical ones you peel or digital ones in the app. Then you collect properties and hope you don't just end up with Baltic Avenue and a bunch of railroads.

They're pushing the app hard. Digital pieces, scanning QR codes, and bonus games that run through November 2. “It’s all designed to keep you playing (and, of course, collecting data along the way).

The McMillion$ Shadow

McDonald’s Monopoly is back on October 6—collect your pieces, chase the prizes, and maybe score more than just fries. (McDonalds)

For those who don't remember, McDonald's Monopoly has baggage. The game was rigged for years by a security officer who stole winning pieces and sold them to accomplices. HBO made a whole documentary about it called McMillion$.

That scandal ended in 2001, but it's why the game disappeared for so long. McDonald's wants you to forget about that and focus on "rediscovering the thrill of the peel."

What You're Really Playing For

Let's be honest - you're playing for free food. The million-dollar prize? Your odds are roughly 1 in 300 million. The Jeep? Similar odds. Those American Airlines miles? Good luck finding available flights to use them on.

Most people will win a free apple pie or fries. Which is fine, but not exactly life changing.

The Marketing Genius

McDonald's knows exactly what they're doing. The game drives traffic for weeks. People buy large fries instead of medium to get more game pieces. They order items they normally wouldn't because those have pieces too.

The company makes millions while giving away prizes that cost them a fraction of the increased revenue. It’s brilliant business strategy, dressed up like a game of chance.

No Purchase Necessary (But Come On)

Legally, they have to offer a way to play without buying anything. You can request free game pieces at amoe.playatmcd.com. But who's actually doing that? The whole point is instant gratification from peeling pieces off your Big Mac box.

Should You Play?

If you're going to McDonald's anyway? Sure, peel the pieces. It takes five seconds, and you might win free food.

But if you’re going out of your way to collect pieces or buying extra food you don't want - that's how McDonald's wins and you lose. The house always wins in gambling, even when the house sells burgers.