Yes, this has always been the case. The reason for the
rule is because with it the game tends to either
diverge (people would gain income at such a rate that
no one would ever become bankrupt), or the game would
last many many hours. However, your rule is a common
"house rule".

There is a set of rules that does use a free parking
pot effectively without the game diverging or becoming
excessively long. The variation is called "beyond
boardwalk". The rules are outlined in a book also
titled "Beyond Boardwalk and Parkplace" written by
Noel Gunther and Richard Hutton. The book is out of
print, but you can find one at your local library. I
found a copy in the Worcester public library in
Worcester Massachussetts. I've played it with my
family a few times and have found it to be really fun
and worth pursueing for those of you who sit down and
play the boardgame. Let me know if you have trouble
finding it as I can sum up the rules.

--- "agathaaav <agathaaav@...>"
<agathaaav@...> wrote:
> Hi, new member here with a question. I have always
> played monopoly
> by by putting $500 (the Pot) into the middle of the
> board. Anytime
> anyone lands on luxury tax, income tax, etc. we put
> the $'s into the
> pot and it keeps building until someone lands on
> Free Parking. They
> get to collect the accumulation and another $500 is
> then again put
> into the middle.
>
> Recently, I bought a game for my son (the new
> generation of monopoly
> fanatics)and to my surprise the rules state "player
> landing on Free
> Parking does not receive any $'s, property or
> rewards."
>
> Has this always been the official rule? I started
> playing in the
> mid-60's and this is how we played. Have they
> changed this rule or
> did we make up our own? I know teenagers who play
> this way also (&
> I didn't teach them to play this way).
>
> Help, anyone in the know?
>
>


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