The brand new MONOPOLY board for Taunton hits shop shelves today (Thursday, October 19). FACT!

What we DO know is that a whole host of unofficial ‘house rules’ have developed over the years, but now we lift the lid on some little known facts.

READ MORE: What's where on the Taunton Monopoly board - and how to get £5 off your copy

Here, with the help of Winning Moves UK – makers of the new Taunton Monopoly board under licence from Hasbro – are some Monopoly facts and fiction.

  • All fines should be put in the middle of the board and scooped up if you land on Free Parking. FICTION! Fines should be given to the Monopoly bank.
  • You can still collect monies on property while languishing in jail? FACT! World Monopoly champs say this little known rule can make the difference between being a Monopoly champ - or chump. 
  • If you land on GO you receive double the amount you would normally get from the MONOPOLY bank. FICTION!  When you Pass GO – or land on it – you receive two hundred Monopoly dollars - dollars is the universal Monopoly currency.
  • Many players believe in luck – and lucky charms. If you are a dog lover then grab the Scottie dog token before someone else does as it has been voted the most popular token. FACT! During a worldwide vote in 2013, the Scottie dog was the overwhelming favourite with fans from more than 120 countries who took part in the contest.

Winning Moves custom games executive Jake Houghton said: “Follow these rules and you could be laughing all the way to the bank – the Taunton Monopoly bank.”

And here are some other general facts about the world’s greatest board game:

  • Monoploy was invented in 1935 by Charles B. Darrow, a heater salesman from Philadelphia, USA.
  • The original tokens were inspired by Mr Darrow’s nieces who recommended metal charms from charm bracelets. The original game included a purse, racing car and rocking horse.
  • Monopoly is played in 47 languages - and sold in 114 countries.
  • And more than one billion people have ‘Passed GO’ worldwide.