Hasbro has introduced “Monopoly App Banking,” a fresh take on a classic board game. Released in New York City at the North American International Toy Fair as a 90th anniversary edition of Monopoly, this edition replaces a banker and paper money with a smartphone app. Priced at $24.99 and released in August 2025, Monopoly App Banking aims to make gameplay more efficient and in step with current financial habits.
The most notable change in Monopoly App Banking is that it is a totally cashless economy. Instead of handling money in physical form, a free mobile app will be used to make all money dealings without a banker. This is done in order to make gameplay more simple with minimal counting and miscalculations that usually result in disagreements.
Aside from online play, the board itself has been thoroughly overhauled. Time-tested places like Boardwalk and Park Place are being replaced by more modern kid-friendly properties such as a Rocket Launch Pad, a Virtual Reality Roller Coaster, and a Dinosaur Park. These new features are attractive to a new generation of tech-savvy gamers and introduce new levels of excitement.
Another major feature is transaction automation. The app allows for purchases, rent collection, and property management so that gameplay is smoother and faster. To enhance gameplay further, Hasbro has incorporated mini-games in the app as well, offering players additional challenges and interactive activities in addition to roll-and-move gameplay.
With Monopoly going digital-first comes a major question about its application in teaching children about finance. The board game has been a valuable learning tool in children’s mathematics education, budgeting and money management for many years. With its movement away from physical currency, however, parents and teachers worry that children will no longer be gaining these valuable skills.
The shift is also in accordance with global finance trends. The majority of Western countries such as U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia are going increasingly towards more and more cashless payments with digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay being increasingly used. Hasbro’s recent move is a symbol of this social shift, but critics are of the opinion that it comes at the expense of old-fashioned gameplay elements that have made Monopoly a classic favorite.
Nostalgia plays a large role in these discussions. Fans who have been around a long time appreciate having the tactile feel of handling Monopoly money and the strategic element of working with physical assets. The elimination of these features could be a loss of authenticity and character to dedicated players who have been playing the board game for many years.
The launch of Monopoly App Banking has been greeted with mixed responses from enthusiasts and experts in the industry. Fans have applauded the innovation as a way of staying current for future generations through simplified gameplay and new mechanics. Tech-inclined players have embraced the app-based system as a natural evolution that mirrors today’s banking.
But critics cite concerns over additional screen use. Monopoly has been a social, screen-free activity that brings families and friends together for years. The requirement that each player must have a personal mobile device detracts from the social aspect and has made many question whether this digital incarnation diluted the essence of the game.
This is not Hasbro’s first attempt at updating Monopoly. Previous versions such as Monopoly Electronic Banking and Monopoly Ultimate Banking Edition introduced digital elements by replacing currency with electronic banking cards and touch-screen controllers. However, Monopoly App Banking is the most extreme departure from coins and bills and is fully embracing the game on a smartphone platform.
