Monopoly

Monopoly rules — frequently asked questions

Do you get money for landing on Free Parking?

Not in the official rules — Free Parking is just a rest space. The "taxes go to the middle" jackpot is a popular house rule that mostly makes the game longer.

What happens if I don't want to buy a property I land on?

The official rule: it goes to auction. The banker auctions it to any player (including the one who declined) starting at any bid. Skipping auctions is a house rule that slows the game dramatically.

Do I collect double for landing exactly on GO?

Officially you collect 200 whether you land on or pass GO — no more. The 400-for-landing rule is a house rule.

Can I collect rent while in Jail?

Yes. Jail restricts your movement, not your business: you collect rent, trade, buy and sell buildings, and participate in auctions as normal.

What's the even-building rule?

Houses in a color group must stay balanced: you can't put a second house on any street until every street in the group has one, and so on up to hotels. The same applies in reverse when selling houses back.

Does a monopoly still count if one street is mortgaged?

You still own the full group, so unmortgaged streets in it collect double rent — but the mortgaged street itself collects nothing, and you can't build on any street of the group while one is mortgaged.

What if the bank runs out of houses?

The 32-house limit is real: if no house tokens remain, nobody can build houses until some return to the bank. Players can even keep hotels off the board strategically by holding houses (the classic "housing shortage" tactic).

How do railroads and utilities charge rent?

Railroads: 25 for one owned, doubling with each — 50, 100, 200 for two, three, four. Utilities: 4 times the dice roll with one owned, 10 times with both.

What exactly happens when I go bankrupt?

If you can't pay a debt even after selling buildings (half price) and mortgaging everything: to a player — they get all your cash, deeds, and cards (paying 10% interest on mortgaged deeds they keep mortgaged or unmortgaging immediately); to the bank — your properties are auctioned off. You're out of the game.

If I roll doubles to get out of Jail, do I roll again?

No. You move by that roll and your turn ends — doubles rolled to leave Jail don't grant the usual extra roll.