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Is there an issue with charging “intrest” in a Monopoly game?

Monopoly is a children’s game that often includes the payment of ribis,interest. One player gives a loan to another, who then has to repay the loan with an additional item, which can be a violation of the issurof ribis.

Even though it is only a game, we, as Jewish parents have a mitzva of chinuch, a duty to train our children to keep all the mitzvos, and just as we train them to keep Shabbos, we should teach them not to violate the laws of ribis. Surely if our children were to play a game in which they act out chilul Shabbos, the desecration of Shabbos, G-d forbid, or any aveira (sin) in fact, we would not allow it. This is not a clear halacha brought down in poskim, but it is important from an educational perspective, an idea in chinuch to contemplate seriously.

Addendum: The following is our response to the unprecedented number of questions raised by our observations about the game of Monopoly:

Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children play games in a kosher manner. When our children trade toys with each other that are not of equal value, they are paying or receiving actual ribis in real life and for keeps. In fact, one contemporary sefer on the topic of ribis authored by Rabbi Pinchas Vind, has a complete section dedicated to children’s pastimes involving payment of ribis.

We would like to reiterate that playing the game of Monopoly is not against halacha per se, since it is only a game, where players act out ribis. However, being mechanech our children in what is permissible according to Torah Law and what is not is the responsibility of every parent.

Indeed, the Gemara (B.M. 75a) tells us that parents should take precaution that children do not develop a taste for ribis, even when it is not a true violation of ribis (see Ritva ibid.). The rules of Monopoly do, in fact, entail acting out the payment of ribis.

The following are some excerpts from the official rules of MONOPOLY: “To de-mortgage a property a player must pay interest of 10% in addition to the mortgage price. Whenever a mortgaged property changes hands between players, either through a trade, sale or by bankruptcy, the new owner must immediately pay 10% interest on the mortgage and at their option may pay the principal or hold the property. If the player holds the property and later wishes to lift the mortgage they must pay the 10% interest again as well as the principal.” Parents should consider alternative arrangements in which Monopoly or other games played by their children do not involve even a semblance of ribis. Halacha2Go #42

A Monopoly “Heter Iska”

The Gemara teaches us that a father should not lend money to his children with ribis, due to the concern that they will become accustomed to this. It would seem that the same applies to a game.

A solution to the problem of “playing” interest is to also “play” a “heter iska“. For example: in the game of Monopoly, when interest comes up, an additional card can be made that reads “היתר עיסקא ברית פנחס”. although not an actual “heter iska” it’s a play iska, just as the game is. This card can be handled along with the “loan”. AskTheRav #10760*

Is Play Money Muktzeh? 

There are poskim who suggest that playing with fake money on Shabbos in games such as Monopoly, is inappropriate, even for children.* This is despite the fact that, strictly speaking, the money is not considered real money, and therefore the selling and buying involved are not considered transactions. It is not clear whether the fake money is muktzeh. However, if the fake money “earned” in camps or other programs can be used to “purchase” prizes—it is certainly not considered fake money at all, as it is a valid currency in that particular camp, mishnayos b’al peh, or mesibas Shabbos program. Therefore, not only may it not be used to “buy” anything, but that fake money is definitely muktzeh. Camps and programs should use other means to keep track of the participants’ learning, attendance, and good behavior, such as a ledger in which paper clips are used to keep track of how many mishnayoseach child has mastered.

*Grown men should obviously not use their Shabbos for such pastimes. Playing games are of course absolutely discouraged, as their time should be spent learning Torah. Halacha2Go #357

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