Monopoly fans mindblown after discovering why the game takes so long to complete

The Sun

10-06-2025

GAME nights can often descend into chaos and rows over hotly debated rules.
And now a lesser known Monopoly step has been brought to light, shocking the internet.
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Whether your family members bend the rules or take the game too seriously, Monopoly has become a classic staple of game nights.
The 1903 board game is known to drag on for hours, and in some cases days, but an overlooked rule can help it end much sooner.
Monopoly is actually supposed to last just 60 to 90 minutes but a common mistake is making it last much longer.
The unknown rule can dramatically change the game's trajectory and even speed it up considerably.
This revelation recently resurfaced on the Triple M Breakfast show, when Beau Ryan admitted he'd had a "realisation the other day" while playing Monopoly.
The presenter explained that he had been playing with his son and after landing on Park Lane, the second priciest property on the standard UK board, he chose not to purchase it.
His son then said he was "buying it" instead, leaving the radio personality confused.
"Hang on champion, you can't buy that, you didn't land on it," he told his son.
However, the young boy insisted that if a player lands on a property but chooses not to buy it, it then goes up for auction.
After scanning the rule book, the presenter was taken aback to learn his son was right.
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"If anyone lands on a property in Monopoly, and they don't buy it, the other plays can auction it," he confirmed.
His co-host Cat Lynch admitted that she also "didn't know that", adding: "You've blown my mind".
The radio show discussion went viral on TikTok, totalling 1.3 million views.
People shared their thoughts on the revelation in the comments section.
"Bruh, that's why it always took hooooours for us to finish," wrote one baffled viewer.
"Oh damn, I think I owe my kids an apology, all this time I thought they were trying to cheat," said another person.
"Wow, been playing it wrong my whole life," a third TikTok user admitted.
However, others insisted that this was a commonly known rule of the game.
"P***es me off when people argue against this rule. Game goes on for months if you ignore it," said one radio listener.
"I'm a rules girl and am 100 percent a Monopoly girl. I love the Auction rule," wrote another person.
The official guidelines dictate: "Whenever a player lands on an unowned property he may buy that property from the Bank at its printed price.
"If he does not wish to buy the property it is sold at auction by the Banker to the highest bidder."
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