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You’d agree that being in jail is no fun. No one wants to be stuck in the “big house” with all its restrictions. For most lovers of Monopoly, going around the board is much more fun than being stuck in a place, especially a place like jail.
But is going to jail as bad as it sounds? Can you get out of jail richer than when you got in? Are there strategic advantages to being in jail?
This article discusses extensively on these matters, especially concerning the possibility of getting richer while in jail. Before we get into the juice of the gist, below are a few facts about Monopoly Jail.
Quick Facts About Jail In Monopoly
- Jail is on the first lane of spaces on the Monopoly board.
- You can’t avoid going to jail.
- Monopoly Jail has a visiting space for visitors.
- Going to jail can make or break your game.
- There are only three ways to get out of jail in Monopoly.
Can You Collect Rent While in Jail?
Monopoly allows you to collect rent while in jail. As usual, when an opponent lands on your property, you can collect rent for the properties. Not collecting rent is not one of the restrictions you get for being in jail.
Monopoly is the game of business and life. For example, if you own properties in real life, going to jail doesn’t mean your tenants stop paying rent to you because you committed a crime. However, this doesn’t mean that being in jail has no consequences, but not just this one.
According to the Monopoly official jail rules, while in jail, you can buy properties, buy houses, sell them, and mortgage them. When other players participate in an auction, you’re not left out. So, aside from being stuck in a place, you can pretty much do everything other players do in the game.
So, if being stuck in a place is the only restriction, what are the advantages or disadvantages of being in jail?
Disadvantages of Jail in Monopoly
Oh yes, there are downsides to being in jail. First, you can’t buy new properties because you can’t move and land on empty properties. Also, moving around the board guarantees you collect $200 when you pass GO. That’s not going to happen for you.
Generally, going to jail and staying in jail is a bad idea. It limits you from getting the edge you need to trade with other players when deals start happening in the game. Remember that owning many properties increases your chances of completing your chosen color set.
As earlier mentioned, when you don’t pass GO during the game, you do not collect $200. This means that staying in jail could mean becoming the poorest person in the game. I don’t know about you, but I dread poverty.
While playing Monopoly, I don’t mind being poor only when I’ve used most of my money to acquire properties. Even then, I still want money to buy houses on the properties.
Aside from these mentioned restrictions and disadvantages, there’s really no other major downside to staying in jail.
Next, we’ll see if there could be advantages to being in jail.
Suggested read: Get Out of Jail Free Cards: Everything You Should Know
Advantages of Being in Jail in Monopoly
Are there really any advantages to going to jail in real life? Well, hardly. But luckily for us, Monopoly isn’t real life. There could be some advantages to going and staying in jail in Monopoly. But this upper hand is seasonal.
Going to and staying in jail could help you avoid the risk of paying high rent on properties owned by opposing players. Far into the game, things get dangerous, and the rent gets really expensive.
Staying in jail is the only tactical way to avoid paying the expensive rent of those properties. While avoiding paying rent to these other players, you can collect rent from players who land on your properties and get rich off the rent.
However, this strategy can’t save you for long. You’ll eventually come out of jail, and if you’re unlucky, you could land on one or more of these expensive properties. Paying those heavy rents could drastically ruin your finances or make you bankrupt.
So, my strategy is to gather enough money while in jail. Before going to jail, I try to buy enough houses on my properties.
Purchasing these properties makes me enough money to pay even the highest rent of an opposing player. The rule is simply to ensure that one rent from your property can cover the highest rent of an opposing player’s property.
Doing this considerably increases your chances of having enough money to pay rent when you leave jail. If you’re fortunate and don’t land on an opposing player’s property, you’ve just made more money to build houses or buy properties from other players.
Therefore, going to jail is really a blessing when you know how and when to employ it. If you make wise decisions, you can use jail to your advantage. And what’s more? You can make money while in jail.
The ‘Collect Rent in Jail’ House Rule
One way people depart from official Monopoly rule is by setting house rules. Interestingly, there is a house rule for jail.
Some players believe that the restrictions by Hasbro for players in jail are not enough. They feel the game encourages a laid-back view of punishing players who commit the crime of landing on a policeman.
So they decide to set their own house rule with more severe punishment for players who land on the go-to-jail space.
One such house rule is that players in jail must not collect rent at all. This house rule means that even if they own just property spaces, properties with houses on them, or properties with hotels, players in jail can’t collect rent.
Aside from players who implement this house rule, some video game versions of Monopoly have this rule as an option in the game settings. Players can play with or without this house rule. But this doesn’t make it an official rule. Officially, players in jail are allowed to collect rent from opposing players who land on their properties.
How Not Collecting Rent in Jail Affects Monopoly Gameplay
Collecting rent is my favorite part of the Monopoly game. So, when I’m not collecting rent, I feel really bad.
However, not collecting rent can cause a few changes in the game. Players can make decisions they otherwise wouldn’t make. If this severe punishment were to be implemented in a game, you’ll notice that players are more eager to leave jail.
Their eagerness stems from the fact that opposing players would land on properties of those in jail without worrying about paying rent.
If you’re in jail where this rule is in practice, you can experience increased frustration because staying there doesn’t serve your purpose.
While other players are moving around the board, collecting salaries, collecting rent, and also not paying you rent, you, on the other hand, are stuck in jail and losing money.
At this point, you really want to get out of jail and would readily consider paying the $50 fine. If you have a Get Out of Jail Free card, you might decide to use it even quicker.
This rule also voids any interest in the third way to get out of jail; rolling a double. When you have nothing to lose other than moving around the board, you’re more likely to try rolling a double regardless of the low possibility of it happening.
However, when you’re losing rent because of this house rule, you might not consider staying three turns in jail simply because you want to roll a double.
Suggested read: How To Get Out of Jail In Monopoly
Official Monopoly Jail Rules
When you go to jail, you do not collect $200, you do not pass go, you go straight to jail. You can do several things in jail, including participating in auctions, buying houses, selling houses, and auctioning properties.
Added to the list is collecting rent from opposing players. There are only three ways to get out of jail. And there are ways to use staying in jail to your advantage. For more on Monopoly jail rules read the article: Monopoly Jail Rules Explained.
