> due to how tedious the game can sometimes be people ignore it because it’s too [much] work.

The view that the game is tedious is directly caused by not reading the rules.

Monopoly is in an odd position where everyone is convinced they know what it's like, and yet nobody knows how to play it. Turns out, if you play it according to the rules, it is not at all similar to the version with rules you made up.

It still is not fun as a game though.

- For people uncomfortable with cut throat competition, this game is winner take all.

- For competitive people, victory is 90% luck and therefore unsatisfying.

- The game is decided halfway through the game time, the rest is the inevitable victory of the leading player.

The worst thing is it is a knock-out format, which is inherently anti-social.

I've played the game a number of times as a deployed troop just for something to pass the time which can also be mildly entertaining for some people.

Our customized house rules are quite fun and move the game along faster as well:

* Eight players setup as four joint ventures.

* Joint ventures share cash and properties, but have two separate tokens on the board.

* No rent collection while in jail to dissuade camping out.

The end game becomes tense as your team has back to back rolls.

So the venture can't collect money if either partner is in jail?

Yes. Legal fees tend to scale to what ever you can afford so it seemed like a fair rule.

Seems like an accurate emulation of the real capitalism, as intended by the game creator.

I think the typical house rules (no auctions, cash on free parking) are to make the game more tolerable for younger children.

Auctions are complicated, and a child with little money is angered when their sibling gets the property they landed on for a discount.

Income tax is tough, but there's a chance of getting it back, so please pay Billy.