What board-game promotion did McDonald’s begin in the United States in 1987?

The board-game promotion McDonald’s began in the United States in 1987 was McDonald’s Monopoly.

The promotion adapted the property names and collecting mechanic of the Monopoly board game for restaurant packaging. Customers received game pieces with selected food purchases and could collect matching sets or claim instant prizes, making the packaging itself part of the brand experience.

McDonald’s Monopoly is sometimes confused with ordinary restaurant sweepstakes because it used a familiar commercial game theme. Its distinctive feature was the collection of property groups, closely echoing the structure of the original Monopoly game.

The campaign became a recurring example of promotional branding: it encouraged repeat visits, gave customers a reason to examine packaging, and connected McDonald’s with a widely recognized entertainment property. Later versions appeared in additional countries and markets.