McDonald's Australia Ends Annual Monopoly Promotion

The fast food giant discontinues its long-running contest to introduce a new programme of monthly customer deals.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Couponing

Bold vector editorial illustration of a paper bag and golden token, symbolizing a change in consumer reward programs.
McDonald's Australia has discontinued its annual Monopoly promotion after 11 years, shifting instead to a new monthly digital discount program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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McDonald's Australia officially ended its annual Monopoly promotional campaign in September 2026, breaking an 11-year streak. The company replaced the long-standing contest with a new September Golden Deals campaign available through the MyMacca's App.

Why it matters

The shift represents a move by the company to explore new methods of providing value and rewarding its customer base across its network of over 1070 local outlets. This change brings Australia in line with the United Kingdom, where the Monopoly promotion has also been discontinued.

The 2025 Monopoly campaign featured a prize pool exceeding $718 million and distributed 32 million instant food wins. In contrast, the replacement Golden Deals campaign offered items such as $3 Big Macs and $2.50 McFlurrys.

The players

McDonald's Australia

The national arm of the global fast-food corporation that operates more than 1070 outlets and employs 115,000 staff across the country.

Warren Buffett

The American business magnate and investor who famously revealed in 2007 that he held a McDonald's gold card.

The details

The transition replaces the traditional game-based format with daily discounts accessible via digital channels. While Australia and the United Kingdom have moved away from the contest, the Monopoly promotion continues to operate in the United States, where it launched on 6 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1971: The first Australian McDonald's restaurant opened in Yagoona.

  2. 2015: The annual Monopoly promotion began its run in Australia.

  3. September 2026: The McDonald's Monopoly campaign was cancelled in Australia.

  4. 6 October 2026: The Monopoly promotion launched in the United States.

Culture Shift

The discontinuation of the Monopoly campaign marks a departure from the 11-year streak of annual promotions that defined the brand's customer engagement strategy since 2015. This pivot signals a broader transition toward app-based loyalty programmes and digital-first discounting models.

Customers will no longer participate in the Monopoly game-piece collection and must instead use the MyMacca's App to access the new Golden Deals. This change shifts the value proposition from chance-based prizes to direct, everyday discounts on popular menu items.

The takeaway

Retailers are increasingly moving away from complex game-based promotions in favour of streamlined, app-based loyalty incentives. Consumers should monitor official brand apps to ensure they do not miss out on transitionary discount offers as these legacy programmes conclude.

What happens next

McDonald's aims to open 50 new outlets in Australia by the end of 2026.

Further reading

For more information on current savings, visit the Australia Couponing section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Realcommercial.

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