McDonald’s is bringing again Monopoly for the primary time for the reason that ‘McMillions’ scammer was uncovered for stealing $24 million in prizes

The Monopoly promotion, first introduced in 1987, became a marketing phenomenon, providing prospects the prospect to win prizes starting from free meals to homes, vehicles, and million-dollar money jackpots. Nonetheless, from 1989 to 2001, the sport was marred by an unlimited conspiracy led by Jerome P. Jacobson, a safety officer who managed the distribution of successful items. Jacobson, generally known as “Uncle Jerry,” systematically stole high-value sport items and distributed them to a community that included household, pals, and mob associates, costing McDonald’s $24 million and dishonest common prospects out of main prizes. The FBI ultimately uncovered the rip-off in 2001, as chronicled in HBO’s 2020 documentary collection “McMillion$”.

In response to the scandal, McDonald’s fired its marketing agency and replaced the Monopoly game with other promotions, including “Game Time Gold” for U.S. stores after 2015. The return of Monopoly in 2025 comes with in depth safety upgrades: prospects will now accumulate and redeem each bodily peel-off stickers and digital items, however all items should be scanned and tracked by means of the McDonald’s app, the place new safeguards and impartial audits are in place.

Gamers can win a variety of prizes, together with:

• $1 million money
• A 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Restricted
• A million American Airways miles
• Dream holidays
• $10,000 Lowe’s purchasing sprees

Greater than 30 menu objects characteristic sport items, and utilizing the app offers each bonus probabilities and a better technique to monitor rewards. Pre-registering within the app gives prospects extra reward factors and probabilities to play.

The return is each a nostalgia play and a strategic gross sales push for McDonald’s. Latest months have seen the corporate regain momentum in U.S. gross sales with film tie-ins and new menu objects. Analysts recommend the Monopoly comeback may reconnect lapsed prospects and strengthen model loyalty, whereas additionally testing whether or not enhanced safety can erase the reminiscence of certainly one of company America’s most infamous scams.

For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the Information earlier than publishing.