How Long Does It Take To Play a Game of Monopoly?

logo by Editorial Staff | Posted on December 30th, 2022

Are you looking for a fun game night activity? Want to know how long it will take to finish a game of Monopoly? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ll discuss the average time it takes to play a game of Monopoly, as well as tips and tricks on how to speed up the process. Get ready for some epic family fun!


Set Up the Game

Setting up a game of Monopoly is an easy process that can be done in two to five minutes. All you need is the board, 8 tokens, play money, property cards, and chance cards. Once you have the pieces, you can start arranging them on the board. You will also need to decide who will be the banker and who will go first. After that, you’re ready to start playing.

Monopoly

Learn the Rules

Learning the rules of Monopoly is essential to playing the game. Knowing the game’s rules will help you understand how to play and how long games typically last.

The basic rules of Monopoly include the following: players must roll the dice and move their token around the board; they can buy properties and build houses and hotels; they must collect rent from other players; they must complete the Banker’s turn; they can land on Chance or Community Chest and must pay taxes and bills.

With these rules in mind, it’s easy to see that a game of Monopoly can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes when played with standard rules. However, if you decide to add in some house rules, such as collecting money on free parking or not auctioning unpurchased properties, a game of Monopoly can last up to 3 hours or even longer.

Choose a Player to Start

Once the game is set up, and all the players have learned the rules, it’s time to choose a player to start. Depending on the number of players, this can take a few minutes. Generally, players will roll the dice to determine who goes first. The highest roll goes first, and the order continues clockwise. Once a player is chosen, they can begin their turn by rolling the dice and moving their token on the board.

Roll the Dice and Move Your Token

When it’s your turn to play, roll the dice and move your token to the number of spaces indicated. As you move along, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase properties, build houses and hotels, collect rent from opponents, pay taxes and bills, and land on Chance or Community Chest. Depending on your luck and the strategies you employ, it could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours to complete a full game of Monopoly.

Buy Properties, Houses, and Hotels

Once each player has been given their token and all necessary game pieces, the game can begin. Players will take turns rolling the dice and then moving their token to the number of spaces indicated. The first player to land on an unowned property may purchase it using the money provided.

If that same player lands on an owned property, they must pay rent to the owner. As the game progresses, players will use their money to purchase houses and hotels to build on their properties and collect higher rents from their opponents.

Collect Rent from Opponents

Once you have purchased properties and built houses and hotels, you can start collecting rent from your opponents. Your opponents must pay you the rent listed on the board whenever they land on one of your properties.

Rent is higher for properties with houses and hotels, so it pays to invest in these upgrades. Collecting rent from your opponents can be a great way to make money quickly and increase your chances of winning the game.

Complete the Banker’s Turn

Once all players have taken turns, it is the banker’s turn. The banker’s job is to handle all the money and property transactions throughout the game. This includes collecting rent from opponents, paying out rewards when players land on Chance or Community Chest, and paying taxes and bills.

The banker also has to pay for any properties that players purchase and provide change when necessary. The banker’s turn is relatively quick and should not take more than a couple of minutes. Once this is done, the next player can begin their turn, thus continuing the cycle until someone wins.

Land on Chance or Community Chest

When you land on a Chance or Community Chest space, you will draw a card that gives instructions on what to do. These cards can instruct you to collect money from other players, advance to a specific space on the board, or pay a certain amount. Depending on the card, these instructions can take a few moments to complete, so you’ll need to factor this into the total time it takes to play a game of Monopoly.

Go to Jail

When you land on the “Go to Jail” space, you are sent directly to jail, and your turn ends immediately. You cannot purchase or collect rent while in jail. You can still collect money from Chance and Community Chest cards.

You can be released from jail by either paying a fine of $50, rolling doubles on your next turn, or using a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. If you choose to pay the fine, you must do it before you roll the dice on your next turn. Once you are out of jail, you can continue your turn as normal.

Pay Taxes and Bills

One of the key elements of playing a game of Monopoly is paying taxes and bills. When landing on certain spaces, players are required to pay certain amounts of money to the Banker.

These taxes and bills can include income tax, which requires the player to pay 10% of their total wealth to the Banker, or luxury tax, which requires the player to pay a flat fee of $75. Paying these taxes and bills is an important part of playing the game and can significantly impact a player’s chances of winning.

In addition, the amount of taxes and bills a player must pay can be affected by the number of houses and hotels they own. The more houses and hotels a player owns, the more likely they will have to pay taxes and bills as they move around the board.

Winning the Game

Once all players have taken turns, and the board has been traversed, it’s time to declare a winner. Whoever has the most money, including cash and assets, will be the victor.

Depending on the number of players and the rules that have been applied, a game of Monopoly can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours. While playing, it can be helpful to set a timer to keep track of the game and ensure it doesn’t go too long. With some practice, you can become a master of Monopoly and complete a game in as little as an hour.

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Editorial Staff

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