Monopoly is ditching paper money for a mobile app, and players say it won’t be the same without sneaky cheating

Monopoly is going digital. Hasbro is breaking with tradition with Monopoly App Banking, eliminating the traditional paper bills for a mobile app that does all the money transactions. No more disputes about who the banker is—now your phone takes care of it all, from transactions to managing properties.

This technological spin is intended to streamline the game and be more inviting to younger generations. Scheduled to be released in August 2025 for $24.99, with the app available to download for free, it's Monopoly for the new generation—just don't fault the app when you still end up on Boardwalk with no money to your name.

The internet didn't delay in making jokes about Hasbro's online Monopoly revamp. Fans are panicking—not with excitement, but how can they "accidentally" swipe extra money from the bank anymore?

Others are lamenting the end of vintage cheating tactics, such as pilfering additional bills when nobody is watching or conveniently "forgetting" to pay rent.

Some are asking whether the app will even be like the actual Monopoly without the family soap opera about lost cash.

A user (@literallymecats) humorously asked:

"And how am I supposed to steal from the bank now?"

Another user (@vikefan1180) asked:

"How I'm supposed to cheat while being the banker now??????"

A user (@dylanjkl) went on to say:

"Why? This is yet another digitalized thing that doesn’t need to be digital."

One user (@KGeN_Community) hilariously said:

"My friend's defo gonna download a mod with money glitch."

A user (@TiTanSwan27) lamented:

"There's absolutely no fun with that."

One comment (@Upgradercom) read:

"They're cheaping out on Monopoly money now 😭"

A user (@ali_rose_r) highlighted:

"Without the fake bills this won't be the same."

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Monopoly is going cashless

Rather than counting out rainbow bills (or conveniently "losing" a few), players will now keep their fortunes in an app.

The idea is to avoid less bickering about math errors and who didn't pay rent.

The truth is that some players are sure this simply removes the soul from Monopoly. Without piles of money to stash (or "borrow"), is it even the same game?

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Monopoly is saying goodbye to the old-fashioned streets

Goodbye to Boardwalk and Park Place—now you can purchase a Rocket Launch Pad, the Moon, or even a Dinosaur Park.

With attractions such as a Virtual Reality Roller Coaster and a Chocolate Factory, this iteration is decidedly targeted at a new generation more interested in tech and thrills than mortgages and rent.

Now, players will choose a token and swipe a bank card into the app, which automatically manages all the money transactions.

No math, no counting, no sneaky side deals—just tap, scan, and watch your fortune grow (or disappear).

Plus, the app throws in mini-games for extra challenges, so even if you’re losing, at least you’ll have something to do besides plotting revenge on the person who just put a hotel on the Moon.

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Impact on gameplay and learning

Monopoly App Banking aims to simplify the game and make it more efficient, particularly for children.

It eliminates the tedium of calculating money transactions by hand, so the game becomes easier for people who are substandard at mathematics.

The disadvantage is that one needs a smartphone or tablet to play, which may not be appealing to everyone.

Classic Monopoly has long been lauded for teaching children fundamental math skills through the process of dealing with money and calculating transactions.

With the move to a digital platform, that interactive learning component is lost, something some parents and teachers may consider a negative.

Nevertheless, the updated version still provides learning benefits in that it exposes children to concepts of digital finance management and automated banking, representative of how money is increasingly managed in actuality.