McDonald’s Caught Up in Gambling: Monopoly Branded as a Game of Chance

From September 10 to October 21, McDonald’s is once again running its promotional campaign inspired by the classic board game Monopoly. To take part, customers must register in the McDonald’s app, make purchases, collect game pieces, and redeem them for prizes. Winners can claim cash, gift cards, and physical rewards such as speakers, irons, or tickets to amusement parks.

The UK charity GambleAware has strongly criticized McDonald’s Monopoly, calling it a disguised form of gambling:

“Promotions like these normalize gambling behavior, especially among underage audiences.”

According to GambleAware, survey data indicates a clear link between prize draws of this type and gambling addiction. Around 27% of people who take part in gambling activities are at risk of developing related problems. The organization stresses that such campaigns are insufficiently regulated, yet they share many similarities with forms of gambling. As a result, participants may not fully understand the associated risks.

GambleAware’s Chief Executive Zoe Osmond warned:

“We are increasingly concerned about how normalized gambling is becoming and how often people—particularly young people—are exposed to it across the UK.”