Monopoly has confirmed that a lesser-known rule in the official handbook can actually speed up the game — and many players are surprised they never knew.
It all started when Australian radio host Beau Ryan shared a story on air about a game of Monopoly he played with his son. During the game, Ryan landed on Park Lane but decided not to buy it. His son then shouted, “Auction!”
Ryan argued that his son couldn’t buy it because he hadn’t landed on it himself. But his son pointed to the official Monopoly rulebook, proving him wrong. According to the rules, if a player doesn’t buy a property they land on, the banker must put it up for auction, allowing all players to bid on it.
The moment went viral online, with many calling the rule a “game ruiner” because it makes the game go by much faster, especially with fewer players.
Monopoly later confirmed this on their official TikTok account by commenting on the viral clip: “Real rule.”
The rule is designed to keep the game moving by preventing players from avoiding expensive properties and slowing down the game. Auctions allow players to grab properties for cheap—or force others to overpay.
Many players admitted they never read the full Monopoly rules and had no idea auctions were required when properties go unsold.
It’s not the only forgotten rule. Another common one is that if a player quits the game, their properties are supposed to go to the bank for auction—not handed over to other players.
Looks like it might be time to dust off that Monopoly rulebook after all.
