McDonald's Monopoly
The McDonald's Monopoly game is a sweepstakes sales promotion of McDonald's and Hasbro, which uses the theme of the latter's board game Monopoly. It first ran in 1987.
The promotion has used other names, such as Monopoly Best Chance Game (2003–2005), Monopoly: Pick Your Prize! (2001), Monopoly/Millionaire Game, Prize Vault (2013-2014), Coast To Coast in Canada & Golden Chances in Great Britain (2015-) and a version based on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire television show.[citation needed]
Contents
History
The promotion has been offered in the United States, Canada,[1] Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and United Kingdom since 1987. Argentina and Brazil were included in 2013. From 2003-2009, Best Buy was involved in the U.S. version, and later in the Canadian version.
Like many merchants, McDonald's offered sweepstakes to draw customers into its restaurants. Laws generally forbid a company from administering its own contests, in order to prevent fraud and to ensure that all prizes are given away. McDonald's had a relationship with Simon Worldwide Inc., which was responsible for the distribution of the contest pieces and the awarding of major prizes.
In 2015, the Monopoly game was replaced by "Game Time Gold" in the United States with an NFL theme. It may return next year[citation needed].
Fraud
In 2000, the US promotion was halted after fraud was uncovered. A subcontracting company called Simon Marketing (a then-subsidiary of Cyrk), which had been hired by McDonald's to organize and promote the game, failed to recognize a flaw in its procedures. Chief of security Jerome P. Jacobson[2] was able to remove the most expensive game pieces, which he then passed to associates who would redeem them and share the proceeds. The associates won almost all of the top prizes between 1995 and 2000, including McDonald's giveaways that did not have the Monopoly theme. The associates netted over $24 million. While the fraud appeared to have been perpetrated by only one key employee of the promotion company, and not by the company's management, eight people were originally arrested, leading to a total of 21 indicted individuals.[3] The relationship between McDonald's and Simon Marketing broke down in a pair of lawsuits over breach of contract, eventually settled out of court, with McDonald's' claim being thrown out and Simon receiving $16.6 million.[4] Due to a constitutional violation, four of those convicted of the fraud were later released as they were not initially charged with the offense.[5]
In 1995, St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee received an anonymous letter postmarked Dallas, Texas, containing a $1 million winning game piece. Although game rules prohibited the transfer of prizes, McDonald's waived the rule and made its last $50,000 annual payment in 2014.[6] Investigations later indicated that Jacobson had admitted to sending the winning piece to the hospital.[7]
Gameplay
The promotion mimics the game Monopoly. Originally, customers received a set of two tokens with every purchase, but now tokens come only with certain menu items. Tokens correspond to a property space on the Monopoly board (with the exception of the Golden Avenue/Arches Avenue "properties", which were added in the 2008 edition; and Electric Company/Water Works properties added in 2014). When combined into color-matched properties, the tokens may be redeemed for money. Historically, the grand prize ($1 million; annuity-only)[Note 1] has been the combination of the two most costly properties, Park Place and Boardwalk, but in the 2006-2007 games the top prize ($5 million, with the traditional $1 million prize for Boardwalk/Park Place) was awarded for collecting the four railroads. There are also "instant win" tokens the recipient can redeem for McDonald's food (typically small menu items, such as a free small McFlurry or medium fries) but never for any food item that has game pieces, money, or other prizes. The 2001 edition was titled "Pick Your Prize!", in which winners could choose which of three ways they wanted their prize awarded to them (i.e. they could choose if they wanted their $1 million in gold, diamonds, or $50,000 per year for 20 years).
Coupon pieces
Additionally, in the 2005 edition, certain foods always came with one coupon which could be used at either Best Buy, Toys R Us, or Foot Locker (including online stores). The value of each coupon was random, with Toys R Us coupons ranging from $1 to $5; up to $5 in coupons could be used in a single transaction. In 2008, these coupons were redeemed for up to 25% off any Foot Locker item(s). Since 2009, the promotion has not featured any coupons.
Products with game pieces
2015 (in Canada only) had the following products featured in those game pieces:
| Canada[8] | USA[9] |
|---|---|
| Big Mac (Single/Double) | Big Mac |
| Chicken McNuggets (10/20 pc.) | Chicken McNuggets (10/20 pc.) |
| Filet-O-Fish | |
| Large French Fries | Large French Fries |
| Medium & Large Hot McCafe Beverages | |
| Medium & Large Soft Drink Cups | Medium Soft Drink Cups |
| Coffee (Medium/Large) | Coffee (Medium/Large) |
| Bacon Clubhouse Sandwiches | |
| McMuffin Sandwiches (except Sausage McMuffin) | McMuffin Sandwiches (Egg/Egg White Delight/Sausage with Egg) |
| Hashbrowns | Hashbrowns |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese/BLT sandwiches (Single/Double) | Oatmeal |
| Signature McWraps | Premium McWrap |
| Regular McFlurry | |
| Breakfast McWraps |
US Law requires that game pieces be available upon request with no purchase necessary (Alternative Method of Entry, "AMOE"), and can be requested by the mailing of a handwritten, self-addressed stamped envelope.[9]
Rare pieces in US/Canada
Canada 2015 - Rare pieces - Rideau Canal, Mackenzie River, Percé Rock, Moose Jaw, Confederation Bridge, Whistler, Yonge Street, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Vancouver Airport.[10]
Says in the Rules (always)
(i)Collect Rideau Canal (#601) and Parliament Hill (#602) to potentially win a Prize of a One Hundred Dollar ($100) cheque. Two Thousand (2,000*) Prizes available, ARV: $100. The approximate Odds of collecting Parliament Hill are 1 in 10*, the approximate Odds of collecting Rideau Canal are 1 in 37,269*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal) are 1 in 172,793*. Each winner will receive a cheque for $100. See Rule 6D(ii) or (iv) for redemption instructions and Rule 7B for Prize details.
(ii)Collect Lake Louise (#603), Mackenzie River (#604) and Lake Athabasca (#605) to potentially win a Prize of a Family Fishing Equipment Package. Ten (10*) Prizes available, ARV: $3,583. The approximate Odds of collecting Lake Louise or Lake Athabasca are 1 in 10*, the approximate Odds of collecting Mackenzie River are 1 in 7,453,736*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Lake Louise, Mackenzie River and Lake Athabasca) are 1 in 36,194,910*. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7C(xi) for Prize details and breakdowns of ARVs of the components which comprise this Prize.
(iii)Collect Percé Rock (#606), Miles Canyon (#607) and Columbia Icefield (#608) to potentially win a Prize of an EA SPORTS™ Soccer Trip for two plus an Xbox One™ console and FIFA 16 game; Twelve (12*) Prizes available, ARV: $4,570***. The approximate Odds of collecting Percé Rock are 1 in 6,211,427*, the approximate Odds of collecting Miles Canyon or Columbia Icefield are 1 in 10*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Percé Rock, Miles Canyon and Columbia Icefield) are 1 in 30,162,425*. Each winner will receive a trip for two (2) to Vancouver, Montréal or Toronto for 3 days, 2 nights to attend a soccer game; plus one (1) Xbox One console and EA SPORTS FIFA 16 game for Xbox One™. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and 7E(i) for Prize details.
(iv)Collect Signal Hill (#609), Peggys Cove (#610) and Tunnels of Moose Jaw (#611) to potentially win a Prize of a Five Thousand Dollar ($5,000) Walmart® Gift Card. One (1*) Prize available, ARV: $5,000. The approximate Odds of collecting Signal Hill or Peggys Cove are 1 in 10*, the approximate Odds of collecting Tunnels of Moose Jaw are 1 in 74,537,355*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Signal Hill, Peggys Cove and Tunnels of Moose Jaw) are 1 in 361,949,097*. The winner will receive a $5,000 Walmart Gift Card. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7A(iii) for Prize details.
(v)Collect Confederation Bridge (#612), Baffin Island (#613) and Bay of Fundy (#614) to potentially win a Prize of a Five Thousand Dollar ($5,000) Vanilla® Prepaid Card. Four (4*) Prizes available, ARV: $5,000. The approximate Odds of collecting Confederation Bridge are 1 in 18,634,339*, the approximate Odds of collecting Baffin Island or Bay of Fundy are 1 in 10*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Confederation Bridge, Baffin Island and Bay of Fundy) are 1 in 86,374,222*. Each winner will receive a $5,000 Vanilla Prepaid Card. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7A(i) for Prize details.
(vi)Collect Algonquin Provincial Park (#615), Wapusk National Park (#616), and Whistler (#617) to potentially win a Polaris® Snowmobile, a helmet (up to $150) and, where/if applicable, a pair of goggles (up to $90). Ten (10*) Prizes available, ARV range: $8,799 - $14,499****. The approximate Odds of collecting Algonquin Provincial Park or Wapusk National Park are 1 in 10*, the approximate Odds of collecting Whistler are 1 in 7,453,736*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Algonquin Provincial Park, Wapusk National Park and Whistler) are 1 in 34,549,689*. Each winner will receive a Polaris® Snowmobile, a helmet and, where/if applicable, a pair of goggles. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7D(i) for Prize details.
(vii)Collect Robson Street (#618), Sainte-Catherine Street (#619) and Yonge Street (#620) to potentially win a Prize of an all-new 2015 Jeep® Renegade Sport 4x2 Vehicle**. Ten (10*) Prizes available, ARV: $24,780**. The approximate Odds of collecting Robson Street or Sainte-Catherine Street are 1 in 10*, the approximate Odds of collecting Yonge Street are 1 in 7,453,736*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Robson Street, Sainte-Catherine Street and Yonge Street) are 1 in 34,549,689*. Each winner will receive an all-new 2015 Jeep® Renegade Sport 4x2 vehicle. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7D(ii) for Prize details.
(viii)Collect Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (#621) and Niagara Falls (#622) to potentially win a Prize of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000). Ten (10*) Prizes available, ARV: $10,000. The approximate Odds of collecting Fairmont Le Château Frontenac are 1 in 7,453,736*, the approximate Odds of collecting Niagara Falls are 1 in 10*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Niagara Falls) are 1 in 34,549,689*. The winner will receive a cheque for $10,000. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7B for Prize details.
(ix)Collect Montréal Airport (#623), Toronto Airport (#624), Halifax Airport (#625) and Vancouver Airport (#626) to potentially win a Prize of a Travel Nation Canada “Great Canadian Adventure” Trip using a Travel Nation Canada $5,000 “travel voucher” plus spending money [see individual “Great Canadian Adventure” Prize details and spending money in Rule 7E(iii)] or, at the Prize winner’s option a winner can use the $5,000 Travel Nation Canada “travel voucher” for any other destination available on the Travel Nation Canada website, subject to the conditions set out in Rule 7E (iii)and receive $2,000 spending money. Twenty (20*) Prizes available, ARV range: $7,000 - $9,300***. The approximate Odds of collecting Montréal Airport, Toronto Airport or Halifax Airport are 1 in 10*, the approximate Odds of collecting Vancouver Airport are 1 in 3,726,868*, and the approximate Odds of collecting the potential Winning Combination (Montréal Airport, Toronto Airport, Halifax Airport and Vancouver Airport) are 1 in 57,482,505*. See Rule 6D(iii) or (v) for redemption instructions and Rule 7E(iii) for Prize details.
US and Canada (Prior to Canadian 2015 monopoly game update)
The rare collectible pieces that dictate the odds of winning are as follows:
| Property | 2014 code | 2014 prize[11] | 2013 code | 2013 prize | 2012 code | 2012 prize | 2011 code | 2011 prize | 2010 code | 2010 prize | 2009 code | 2009 prize | 2008 code | 2008 prize | 2007 code | 2007 prize | 2006 code | 2006 prize | 2005 code | 2005 prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean Avenue | 501 | $50 (Paid in McDonald's Gift Cards in Canada) | 431/461 | $1,000 ($25 McDonald's Gift Card in Canada) | 925 | $50 (Paid in McDonald's Gift Cards in Canada) | 321 | $50 (Paid in McDonald's Gift Cards in Canada) | 750 | $50 (Paid in McDonald's Gift Cards in Canada) | 101 | $50 (Paid in McDonald's Gift Cards in Canada) | 251 | $100 | 801 | $50 | 3601 | $50 | 5001 | iPod plus 1000 iTunes downloads |
| Vermont Avenue | 504 | Shell fuel for 1 Year ($2,500 in Canada) | 434/464 | $5,000 ($50 McDonald's Gift Card in Canada) | 928 | $5,000 | 324 | 753 | 104 | 254 | 804 | 3604 | 5004 | |||||||
| Virginia Avenue | 508 | $5,000 | 438/468 | $10,000 ($20,000 in Canada) | 932 | Beaches Resorts Vacation | 328 | 757 | 108 | 258 | 808 | 3608 | 5008 | |||||||
| Tennessee Avenue | 510 | Softcard Mobile Wallet Prize + $2,500 for wireless service ($5,000 Wal-Mart Gift Card in Canada) | 440/470 | EA Sports Super Bowl XLVIII trip for 2 ($5,000 Wal-Mart Gift Card in Canada) | 934 | $10,000 | 330 | Beaches Resorts Vacation | 759 | $1,000 | 110 | $5,000 | 260 | $5,000 | 810 | $5,000 | 3610 | $1,500 | 5010 | JVC electronics package |
| Kentucky Avenue | 512 | Any Delta Airlines Vacations Destination for 2 (all areas) | 442/472 | Any Delta Airlines Destination for 2 | 936 | Any Delta Airlines Destination for 2 | 332 | $50,000 | 761 | Beaches Resorts Vacation | 112 | $10,000 | 262 | $10,000 | 812 | $10,000 | 3612 | $5,000 | 5012 | 100 million Best Buy Reward Zone points |
| Ventnor Avenue | 516 | Beaches Resorts Vacation | 446/476 | $20,000 ($10,000 in Canada) | 940 | $20,000 | 336 | $100,000 | 765 | $25,000 | 116 | $25,000 | 266 | $25,000 | 816 | $25,000 | 3616 | $10,000 | 5016 | Trip to the Glory Road movie premiere |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 520 | Cessna Private Jet Trip | 450/480 | 2014 Fiat 500L (2013 Fiat POP in Canada) | 944 | 2013 Fiat 500 Sport Hatchback | 340 | 2012 Nissan Leaf or 2012 Nissan 370z | 769 | $50,000 | 120 | $50,000 | 270 | $50,000 | 820 | $50,000 | 3620 | $50,000 | 5020 | JVC and LG "electronic makeover" |
| Boardwalk | 522 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 452/482 | $1,000,000 (annuity, $100,000 for Canada) | 946 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 342 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 771 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 122 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 274 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 822 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 3622 | $1,000,000 (annuity) | 5022 | $1,000,000 (annuity) |
| Short Line | 526 | $5,000 Target Shopping Experience on Black Friday ($1,000 in Canada) | 456/486 | Shell Fuel for 1 Year ($5,000 in Canada) | 950 | EA SPORTS Fan Trip Championship Get-A-Way | 346 | EA SPORTS Trip | 775 | EA SPORTS Trip | 126 | $500 | 278 | $500 | 826 | $5,000,000 (annuity) | 3626 | $5,000,000 (annuity) | 5026 | Dodge Viper |
| Water Works*** | 527 | $10,000 to pay bills | ||||||||||||||||||
| Golden Avenue** | 271 | $100,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Free Parking**** | ??? | $100,000 |
Note that the rare piece is alphabetically the last property in each group, except for Boardwalk. In 2013, McDonald's allowed two Boardwalk pieces to be produced, normally there has been one.
[*] Until 2007, Mediterranean and Baltic avenues were dark purple properties on the traditional Monopoly board; the color changed to brown in 2008.
[**] McDonald's added Golden Avenue and Arches Avenue for 2008 only; the prize for obtaining both was $100,000.
[***] Electric Company & Water Works are added for 2014; obtaining both wins $10,000.
[****] One Free Parking $100,000 prize is seeded (including mail-in game pieces) on each of the following in only the US Territory: Bacon Clubhouse (1 in 9,836,000), Filet-O-Fish (1 in 19,585,000), Big Mac (1 in 45,000,000) and Large Fries (1 in 150,254,000)[12]
Germany
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The German version of the rare piece list is as follows:
| Property | 2009 code | 2009 prize | 2009 number awarded | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | ??? | 1 each of the below + 1 each of the instant win prizes. | 1x | 0 property | 1 instant |
| Turmstraße | 902 | Monopoly Game set. | 1000x | 340 property | 660 instant |
| Elisenstraße & Poststraße | 904 & 905 | €1,000 Prepaid Visa Card | 1000x | 950 property | 50 instant |
| Hafenstraße | 907 | LG Netbook | 500x | 170 property | 330 instant |
| Wiener Straße & Berliner Straße | 910 & 911 | Audi A3 Cabriolet | 100x | 90 property | 10 instant |
| Museumstraße | 913 | Nintendo Wii with Avatar the game | 777x | 259 property | 518 instant |
| Schillerstraße | 916 | MSC cruise for two | 5x | 2 property | 3 instant |
| Hauptstraße | 919 | ETI dream vacation to Egypt | 100x | 34 property | 66 instant |
| Parkstraße | 921 | Hercules Mountain Bike | 100x | 34 property | 66 instant |
| Südbahnhof & Westbahnhof | 932 & 924 | €100,000 from Visa | 10x | 10 property | 0 instant |
In addition to the property pieces, there are also Instant Win pieces for a Samsung MP3 player, a LG Touchscreen cellphone, €150 gift certificates to S.Oliver, a JBL iPod dock, a Funai Flatscreen television, Nikon digital camera, Noxon internet radio, and SnowTrex one-week ski vacation for two.
Online games
In 2005, McDonald's introduced an online counterpart to its traditional game. In addition to the traditional "sticker" game, participants can play online. Each game piece lists a code which can be entered online, to a maximum of 10 entries per 24 hours. Each code entered grants the user one roll on a virtual Monopoly game board, identical to the board game's board. Rolling "doubles" (two dice sharing the same number), as with the real board game, allows the user to move again.
Landing on Electric Company, Income Tax, Jail/Just Visiting, Go to Jail, Water Works, or Luxury Tax does not count towards any prize. If a player lands on an unowned property (not landed upon by the player in a previous turn), the user will "collect" that property. When all properties of a colored set are collected, the user wins a prize, with prize values similar to those of the sticker game. In addition to collecting property sets, users can also win by landing on certain "instant win" spaces, including Go, Chance, Community Chest, and Free Parking. Landing on Go (but not simply passing it) gives the player a code worth one free hour of WiFi access at participating McDonald's restaurants. Landing on Chance is worth money to spend at Foot Locker. Landing on Community Chest allows the user to be given a code worth 25 My Coke Rewards points. Landing on Free Parking is a prize of a $50 refillable gas card from Shell, or alternatively 25 complimentary apple pies.
In 2007, landing on Community Chest won game downloads.[13]
In 2009, the prizes became two hours of WiFi and a $25 Arch Card for landing on Go, an entry into an online roll for $1,000,000 (annuity) for landing on Chance, 25 My Coke Rewards points for landing on Community Chest, and a $50 refillable Shell gift card for landing on Free Parking.
The values of the dice are not random. As stated in the contest rules, one property in each set is "rare," similar to the sticker game. These rare properties are landed on only when the game server "seeds" a winning roll. Winning rolls are seeded at specific times on specific dates, and the first user to roll the dice once a win has been seeded will land on a winning piece. This allows McDonald's to declare the odds of winning certain prizes, a legal requirement for contests in most jurisdictions.
In 2010, the online game was changed, removing the dice and the game board, presenting only 3 Chance cards from which to pick. One has a prize, starting at 30 My Coke Rewards points, but may be (non-randomly) seeded with a higher-valued prize. Player chooses one card, is asked if that is the choice the player wants to make, and the card is flipped. If it is the pre-selected winning card, player wins the pre-selected prize. Odds of winning: Based on time you enter code not the card you choose.
In 2011, the game was changed again – the mascot, Rich Uncle Pennybags (aka "Mr. Monopoly"), is shown attempting to throw a Chance card into a top hat. If the card lands in the hat, the player can claim a prize. Players must choose a "throwing style", which only changes the animations used – it does nothing to affect one's odds of winning.
In 2012, the game was changed once more. Players must click on "Spin" first, and if it landed on "GO!", the player wins the online prize shown. The next year, players had to click on "Play"; a win resulted in the prize shown onscreen; regardless of outcome, players received an entry to win a 2013 Fiat 500 Cabrio. For the 2014 game players must click on "GO!", and if it results in a win, the online prize is shown onscreen; regardless of outcome, the participant receives an entry to win $50,000.
Restrictions
For all versions of the online game, players are restricted to a set number of online entries per day.[14] In the UK, this is restricted to 24 entries. In USA, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Saipan, the limit is 10.
Note that the official rules state: "The purchase, sale, trading, or barter of Game Pieces, Game Stamps, FREE Codes or Game Codes via Online or live auctions, or any other methods, does not constitute Legitimate Channels and is expressly prohibited."[14] This includes eBay as it is a violation of their lottery policy.
Notes
- ↑ The prize is only payable in $50,000 per year installments. The total value of the prize is not
[citation needed] because each successive installment is further diminished by the factor of annual inflation. The actual prize is hundreds of thousands of dollars less[citation needed]. The value of the nth installment is: 
. Thus, the total value of the prize discounted by a 2% inflation rate (I=0.02) is the geometric sum: 
Such would be the present value of the annuity-due. Alternately, if McDonalds were to withhold the beginning of payments for a year, the annuity-immediate is $817,571.67.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Associated Press. Twenty-one indicted in McDonald's scam, St. Petersburg Times, 11 September 2001.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Donor Turns Fast Food Into Big Bucks For Hospital, The New York Times.
- ↑ St. Judes' Mystery Million Came From Embezzler, CNN transcript, 11 September 2001.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://news.mcdonalds.com/getattachment/75e01167-bc36-46e9-9ce0-29b5a249659f
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
