Hasbro Unveils Cashless Monopoly Version at 2016 Toy Fair
Posted on February 20, 2016
A new version of Monopoly was unveiled by Hasbro at the 2016 Toy Fair that does not use cash. The game is called Monopoly Ultimate Banking Edition. It uses a digital banking unit to keep track of the finances during the game.
The New York Daily News reports that the digital banking unit scans barcodes on the property cards. The players' money is tracked using tiny debit cards. The banking unit will also track the Chance cards and adjust funds when a player wins money thanks to a banking error or loses it due to an unexpected tax. The game does have an interesting new wrinkle. The value of properties fluctuate during the game.
As Gizmodo notes this is actually the second time Monopoly has gone cashless. The first version - called Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition - involved what Gizmodo calls an "awkward keypad" that slowed down the game. This new version sounds better and should speed up the game. It also keeps someone from having to be the banker.
The new version of Monopoly will arrive in stores this fall. It will retail for $24.99.