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

Scottish Sun

10-06-2025

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
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.
2
Monopoly players can speed up the game with a little-known rule (stock image)
Credit: Alamy
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.
Read More On Games
GAME CHANGER I cleared £24k debt in 8 months after I followed Monopoly rules in real life
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.
I thought it was Monopoly money,' admits man who found $8k cash in a pile on road – what he did with it was a surprise
"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.
What is the longest game of Monopoly ever recorded?
While not officially cited in the Guinness World Records, it is widely believed that the longest game of Monopoly lasted a total of 1,680 hours.
This equals to 70 days of playing.
"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."