Are you ready for Shop, Play, Win! Monopoly 2021? It began on March 3, 2021, and is ready to play at Albertson’s retailers nationwide. This year, there are some exciting changes that we will be highlighting below! This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All views are my own.
Enter to possibly win 1/60 $100 Albertson’s Company Stores Gift Cards
If you love the thrill of MONOPOLY, you are going to want to head to your local Albertson’s retailer to start shopping, and play this year’s super exciting version of Shop, Play, Win!
Unlike past years, the 2021 version focuses more on the Shop, Play, Win! app. You can download the app for Android and iOS systems for free in their respective app stores. It’s easy to download and set up. Follow the in-app instructions to connect it to your Albertson’s just for U® store account.
Let’s explore the game features for 2021!
New Features for 2021
Unlike past Shop, Play, Win games, this year has some fun and exciting new changes we are absolutely loving.
- No Game Board Needed – say goodbye to the flimsy, easy to lose paper game board that was hard to maneuver.
- No Markers to Collect – If you hated licking or wetting the back of the paper stamps, you’re in luck because they are phased out in 2021.
- Over $230 Million in prizes and money-saving offers – YAY, this speaks for itself!
- Millions of instant win prizes – Need I say more? This includes groceries for life – imagine winning that?
Are Paper Game Pieces Still Used?
To clear up any confusion, YES you will still earn paper game pieces for buying participating grocery items from partners like:
- Jimmy Dean;
- Doritos;
- OREO;
- Pampers; and
- Larabars.
In fact, we earned 26 game pieces on our recent grocery trip because we bought a bunch of Larabars, each one earned a bonus game piece. Plus, they were on sale for just $1 at Shaw’s! 😉
How to Play
Playing Shop, Play, Win! Monopoly 2021 is really easy.
- Simply remove the perforated edges of the game piece.
- Unfold the game piece flat to reveal the codes.
- Either scan the game piece with your smartphone camera or enter it manually into the app.
- Find out what you won!
Every Ticket is a WINNER!
New for 2021, there are millions of prizes, and EVERY ticket wins!! A prize, offer, or tokens can be earned on each game piece.
You can either win INSTANTLY or play the Match 3 Digital Game. I won FREE Lucerne Sour Cream on my first try!
Redeeming Prizes
The beauty of this year’s game is that you do not have to save your paper-free product coupons or offer codes. All coupons and store prizes are loaded to your MyList in your just for U® account.
When you are ready to redeem your freebies:
- Log into your Just for U® account.
- Click on the item in your app (to redeem) to add it to your shopping list.
- Enter your telephone number on the pinpad at check out as you normally would. (to connect your account to your shopping transaction)
Any tokens earned can be entered into various sweepstakes available in the app that interest you.
A few of the available prizes are:
- A trip to Universal;
- $5,000 vacation;
- $1,000 daily drawing; and
- $25,000 cash prize.
As you can see, this year’s game is super exciting! I cannot wait to head to Shaw’s to earn game pieces on groceries I buy.
Be sure to head to your local Albertson’s store to see which products give bonus game pieces. It changes each week!
Your Chance to Win a $100 Gift Card
Enter to possibly win 1 of 60 $100 Albertson’s Company Stores Gift Cards
Want another way to possibly win? Open your Valpak envelope to see if you’re an instant winner of a $100 gift card and to get more details on how to win groceries for life!
Enjoy & good luck!
See official instore signage, and reads the game rules on the Shop, Play, Win! app for full details. Good luck!
As a loyal player of this game, I am really disapponited with the changes this year. I love the old way. I love collecting the tickets. It is more fun. I was expecting the game this year. But the only thing I found now is disappointment. In the comments, I found that I’m not the only one disappointed. In the past, as long as you make a purchase, no matter how much, no matter what products, you can get one ticket. Now you have to make a purchase for at least $25 just to get one ticket.This reduces the opportunity to get a ticket. And if the buyer is an old person or disabled person who do not know how to use a smartphone, his or her right to play this game will be forfeited by the new rules. And sometimes the system doesn’t work. It makes people impossible to play this game. And as what is said in the article, we used to be able to exchange the tickets we need. Now we can do nothing to help each other. I really hate the new rules this year. Bring back the old game! If the company cannot afford to play this game, don’t toy with us.
Totally agree. Being both senior and disabled, and very limited in what I can do with my outdated phone and eyes and nerves-hate it, and most of the reviews I’ve seen are alllllll negative.
I think they phased out the original Monopoly game due to Covid, because no one wants to handle peoples saliva on the game pieces. I’m sure considering we’re in a pandemic that’s one of the reasons why. :/
I agree your chances of winning anything is almost impossible.
I am so sad that they did this I look forward to this every year and this year I didn’t even want to participate.
This change sucks. I do not want to play virtual. I want the paper game board and the pieces like it has always been. I do not like to be constantly on the PC. And I refuse to play this game on my phone as that is not fun, nor do I want to constantly handling my phone. this whole new idea sucks and whoever thought and then implemented the change should be fired. I am not playing this year. Nor will I purchase items with the monopoly logo on the shelf. this whole new game is stupid
I am an old lady, but I do know how to use smart phone. My app does not allow me to enter the codes. All I get is the screen with the “title deed” cards. What can I do?
Hello Myra,
I suggest you uninstall the app and download the new app. Seems you might have an old version.
Nope. I uninstalled the old app and installed the new one and I’m having the same problem. This app is a piece of crap and definitely discourages me from playing this game.
You have to tap on three of those title deed cards to see if you win anything.. 3 of the same means you win it I’ve won 2 bottles of water and box of ritz crackers so far in the first week. But I have to say I like the other way better. Not as fun.
When you get to the title deed screen, you pick 3 cards. If they match, you get the prize pictured.
I totally agree with this new game of Monopoly, IT SUCKS ! Well on to a different food store, BYE !
This new version sucks and definitely not as fun as the last version. I understand why they did it though. To keep everyone safe. We gotta keep that in mind yall. If I worked at these stores I wouldn’t want to touch any game pieces that might expose me to covid. Remember sometimes we had to moisten the game pieces for them to stick to the game board. Also, I was not happy with not winning or being super close to winning and the game ends. We gotta pick out battles people.
What do you do if the message comes up “invalid code ” and you have verified it and reentered it multiple times
Hi Denise,
This happens sometimes when I scan the code. I find if I turn the flashlight on, on my phone and scan it against something white it works.
Hi Hi Amy
All of My Shutterfly winners keep saying Invalid code. I’ve done them multiple times none work. I have 25 Shutterflys winners and they don’t take.
Thank you
Kellie
Hi, did you scan them on the Monopoly app first? The offer should then be emailed to you. Hope that helps.
I’ve downloaded the app to my phone but nothing happens. A screen comes up it’s blue and then nothing else. You know this is a terrible way to play this game, I’ve played the game with the tickets. If I can’t get it loaded on my phone I guess I can’t play then. This isn’t the best way to play this game what about the people that don’t have the type of phone you need, they just don’t get to play. I don’t think people thought this through.
New game sucks. Nothing is monopoly related. No pieces to collect. Most of what you win are 50 cent off coupons for products you normally would not buy. However, you can’t give them to the cashier and have them scanned. You have to scan them with phone and they are deposited into your “for U account.” Which is difficult to do in the checkout line with a long line angry frustrated people waiting dehind you. The cashier and manager were of little help. Game pieces can take up 24 hours to show up in your account so they are useless. Prices are even cheaper at other stores even without the coupon so I will not be back.
I do not like this new game! I liked saving all the game pieces to actually ‘play’ the monopoly game! This game is NOT Monopoly!!!
My App is not working today! Yesterday I scanned and matched three and was told I won gas/grocery, but I don’t know how much. I tried to open my app today and it will not open anything but home page and it even looks different from yesterday. Can you help?
The same thing happened to me.
Me too! Trying to figure out how much gas/grocery I won
So I have been diligently scanning in these “winning tickets” with the app on my phone. and then I can see them in my Just4U account on shaws.com. One of my loaded free coupons is a free 8-pk of hotdog buns, which I bought today, but they charged me the regular price, and they were NOT free. It doesn’t seem right to challenge the poor cashier about this or for me to take the time to stand in line at customer service and try to explain it to them :-( Not a great outcome for me.
Your ‘review’ reads like marketing hype, no real value being added. As with most all other commenters, I feel that this years version is just plan bad and not fun to play. Nor does it give me any good reason to shop at these stores to try out the products promoted by the coupon since they require us to use the app. Seems like their intent is to push us that way trying to change our shopping habits, than it is to promote the products themselves.
Hi, while it was marketing, I do agree with most of your comments. The app is glitchy, and really does have a lot of bugs that need to be worked out! Hopefully they return to paper next season.
I just have the App open so the cashier sees I got thr right item and she should be able to manually enter it in the register so you can get the item free. The only one that I know does not scan correctly is the loaf of French bread from the bakery.
ABSOLUTELY ABSURD THAT I HAVE TO USE A SMARTPHONE APP FOR THIS GAME. I REFUSE TO LOAD ANOTHER BLOATED APP ONTO MY PHONE. GOODBYE SAFEWAY/ALBERTSON’S/WHOEVER! I’ll shop at Walmart from now on.
I hope next year they return to paper fully as well. It makes me sad that you all are having these issues!
I have a theory that the “match 3” (title deed cards) function is tied directly to the code and not your actual selection of the three cards. (In other words, if the CODE is programmed as a winner, your three selections will automatically be revealed as a win). There are 84 distinct combinations of the nine squares and I’ve already won more frequently than chance would predict. My advice is to use the same three squares every time until they hit and not to try guessing the side for the “consolation prize”; use the left or right side throughout the game.
The App Froze. I only entered one code.
Cannot move out of the blank board.
I agree, it is glitchy! Sorry this is happening to you!
It says that I have one free items but when I go to the Just4u app, I can’t find where to click those items. It says it would be in my list, but with the new update on the app I can’t find it.
Hi Donna, This happened to me as well. It took about a week to see my winnings in my Just for U. Make sure to keep checking. Also, you have to check these off in the app once you put them in your cart or they will not come off free.
Not playing for the first time since this game began. As it used to be, it illicited fond memories of playing the board game as a child.
Now it’s nothing but a headache inducing series of chores in order to MAYBE get 50% off an item I didnt want in the first place.
I feel manipulated by corporate America but this one may very well have backfired on the execs big time and served only to alienate their bread and butter – us – the not-so-gullible customers.
We’re smarter than that and we’ll speak with our wallets and get ’em where it hurts: their bottom line – profits.
I have loaded the app on my cell phone and when signing in it will not accept my password. When clicking on the find password nothing works.
This new system sucks, i am on the computer daily but am having no success with this new system. I will throw away the 50+ cupons i have and not accept any more at the store.
I received a winning ticket. Now my email says to click on the link to download the redeem papers. All I get is a Error 401 page. Fix this!!. The other option is to go to the app and find the redemption pages there. I have yet to find them. There are no options for them on the app. What category are they under in the main page? This is not user friendly.
I have to agree that this new “version “ of the Monopoly game is a total disaster. I already do too many tasks on my iPhone… and that’s what this game feels like… a task! Not fun at all. Whoever thought this up needs to find another line of work.
Where is the address to MAIL IN the monopoly tickets? It says to go to the Official Rules on the website, but I can’t find the rules or the mailing address.
Hello, you can find that info here: http://www.ShopPlayWin.com/rules
totally agree – a total disaster
A lot of people are not playing this game, not exciting and the app is VERY glitched I’ve scanned three tickets and it either freezes on the scan screen or tile, therefore you actually loose that ticket. I think I’m done with this!
I’ve won a bunch of free Refreshe waters. Lovely, except, the store has never had any in stock, and I’ve been told there are no rain checks. This game is about as fun as slamming my hand in a car door.
I understand, I can’t find them either! They must be selling out fast!
My store has them in the stand up coolers near the check out stands…..as well as in the cold refrigerated drinks area next to the eggs
i haven’t been able to enter one code.
I will add to this disaster. The new game sucks. It almost completely leaves out the elderly, who probably need the free items the most! Also, it added joy to their lives and something to look forward too! Bring back the old game!!!
Only reason I am “playing” for my 89 yr old mother is the tokens that when they total the required number will get $10 or $5 off her purchase. Have won several of the in store items but same as past years some are not on shelves.
Not nearly as fun as the previous versions. There’s no “I’m two-thirds of the way towards $10,000!” The only
prizes are cents-off or free coupons for stuff you normally wouldn’t buy even with cents-off. There’s no
tie-in to Monopoly. And of course it’s a blatant attempt to modify shoppers behavior to use the Albertson’s
Just For U app more. Boo.
The only items I cannot find this year are the nail clippers, the cooking spray, the single 16 ounce Snapple drink & the 8 ounce store brand sour cream.
After using up my precious 30 minutes to myself in the morning before all hell breaks loose reading all the negative comments, I think I’m just gonna pass on inputting my 40 plus tickets I’m looking at and save myself a giant headache and a need for a coupon on Tylenol.
Lost my interest completely. I am Not the slightest bit interested in playing this game on my phone, wouldn’t mind being able to play on the PC but there is no option. Anyone that thinks the whole world revolves around apps needs to rethink and be re-educated. Won’t be shopping at Albertsons until they understand ALL of their customers needs.
I’m really glad I read these posts before bothering to download the app. I don’t like having unnecessary apps on my phone. Based on the comments this new approach seems to limit its user base. That’s a shame. I’m sure I would’ve liked the previous version of the game; the new version doesn’t seem to be enjoyable. Nothing wrong with manual interaction, at least it gets your attention off of the digital media.
Sorry my life doesn’t revolve around a mobile phone.
This electronic version has to be the worst idea since the “Pet Rock”. Please bring back the paper Monopoly board, just like the real game with board, dice, tokens, Community Chest and Chance cards! I will not play this game as some have opined it as a “task” and not enjoyable or convenient at all and is a sentiment well conveyed. I shall not being going back to Albertson’s, Tom Thumb nor Market Street soon to shop as I eagerly anticipated the game when the season was upon us.
Wow. I played this for the for the first time ever today just to try to figure out why they offer this game. I still have no explanation after spending an hour and a half ripping and scanning.
However, it’s free stuff, it’s simple to do and you can donate to charity if you like.
If you are shopping somewhere based on this game, I am perplexed by that. We have much bigger problems to solve than game pieces and dealing with change. Chill.
Thank you! I agree!
i had fun everytime i got new tickets. i even baught more/special items to get more tickets. i enjoy the pick three option im content with the change!
So far I’ve won 56 bottles of water and they’ve been out of stock. I also won a bottle of vinegar and that is also out of stock. Worst game ever!
That is a ton of water! I also cannot find the water sadly!
My safeway just opened a case of water and gave me a bunch of those. They just have to ring them in manually which they do a lot they said.
YEA– YOUR SYSTEM SUCKS, IT LOCKED UP MY I-PHONE AND MY COMPUTER.. THE PERSON IS A IDIOT THAT MADE THIS MONOPOPLY GAME!
I scanned my tickets with my smartphone
I won 21 bottles of water
2 sour cream
Peppermint lip balm
A fresh ready to watch salad ( I just ate)
One tangerine sparkling water
1) 200 MG ibuprofen
3 ) water crackers
1) bread crumbs
1) kinderjoy candy
2) vinegar
2 ) hand soap
1.) Signatu re select seasoning packet
1. Signature select pasta
1.) Prego sauce
2.) cooking spray
2) animal cookies
1 box facial tissue
1 bag hot dog buns
1 smartwater
1 yogurt
4 loaf French bread
Earned tokens and redeemed for $25
I admit many items where not on the shelf and a Safeway manager Dustin in Sidney Ne went around the store with me to see my dilemma and he allowed me to substitute everything!! He is a excellent manager Thank You Dustin
I joined just to share somewhere how much Monopoly sucks this year. I really enjoyed in years past, but as others have said it’s not monopoly related and tedious to enter codes. Admittedly that’s probably to slow down people who are trying to rig the game, but either way it sucks this year. Ha! Hopefully next year will be better.
What about if you play at multiple stores? Like I have won some free items at Vons and some at Albertson’s and the Monopoly App says they uploaded my winning codes and they were transferred to my “J4U account”, but I can’t find them in Albertson’s or the Vons app?
Like many others the biggest thing I’ve won is… 23 bottles of water that I can’t find. Along with other items that are wiped out.
Like many others I don’t care for the changes. The fun is gone without being able to collect pieces. I’d have thought it would at least be giving digital pieces for a digital board…
I do not have a smart phone so I’m entering codes manually on the computer. WHICH I HATE because it’s just far too much. I really miss when most of the instant wins were coupons you could USE, no codes needed. And now even the 50 cent off coupons have to be entered? I have two family members who are happy to give me their game pieces… and I have entered 440 codes! (It would have been over 500 had I not given up on entering the last 60+ 50 cent off coupons!) That’s literally painful and crazy making and makes playing it not enjoyable at all. If they choose to keep it mostly digital I hope they improve on this.
I cannot find my instant winner monopoly rewards, they have all disappeared since just for you changed the app. I am wondering where they might be! I went in to my store today only to not be able to find the rewards!!!!!!
What an awesome deal for Safeway, to “award” coupons for items they NEVER have in stock! Water, nail clippers, sour cream, O animal crackers….bad form, Safeway.
Just had to leave a comment agreeing that the present game is awful. Most loyal ACME shoppers wont even accept the tickets. I also agree that the “pick 3” function may be rigged to the game piece code, rather than a real chance of winning. I also hope they return to the original game or, if they are so paranoid about the Covid infection, then convert the old original game to a digital game board. It would have been just as doable and far more enjoyable.
I actually like the new version so much easier to manage hate the new update for the app though. Question though can I redeem multiple monopoly coupons in 1 transaction ?
I like the speed an ease to scan the codes with my phone to see if I have won. My problem is that the free items are not showing up in my Acme just for you account. It said It would take a day or two but it has been almost two weeks and they have not appeared.
Last year I lost out because my tickets for free items were never available in the store to be redeemed- sounds like from the reviews this year is no different.
I was also disappointed that this year you did not receive one ticket with any purchase. I don’t have a family and don’t buy too much in any one visit so did not receive any tickets some weeks because I did not buy the special bonus items.
Second time comment. This is a most difficult process to play your new game and get rewards earned. I have not been able to enter ticket codes for Last Chance sweepstakes since I don’t have scanning ability. (no smart phone). Navigating your pathways is an absolute nightmare. I have been bounced and pushed and shut put of any possibilities of code entry. So I have about 300 tickets I can do nothing with. Anyway It probably isn’t worth it any way because prizes aren’t much according to the many complaints I’ve been reading. Alas for the old more simple workable days and ways I Hope you take note of these many problems for future implementations.
Where can we see the list of winners? Did anyone really win the may 18th sweepstakes? That information has disappeared from my app.
Btw I didn’t think the online game was bad. I won more items then in the past so thanks
Hi, I do not see it live as of yet.
I also had issues with free prizes loading to J4U account. The app claims they were posted to my J4U account, but I was unable to locate them on mymixx app. Contact information was correct so that was not the problem. I was unable to verify physically if they actually loaded to J4U. Regardless, I wrote them down and spent a lot of time searching for the items. Of course when I checked out, entered my phone number I was told they were not free. I wasted a lot of time writing a list and shopping for bogus free items. VERY DISAPPOINTED in Acme !!!
That is sad! I am sorry to hear that!! Hopefully the brand takes into consideration all the helpful feedback in this thread.
This is another painful way to play-only folks with smart phones can play-not nice to those whom dont have one. Secondly i have played all other games about 4 past ones (so much so that all that dont want to do the extra efforts give me their tickets). Shopping for the won prices either by extra guessing game of picking three cards is another layer of crap. then to print out the list of winning items that is mixed into the tokins is a pain, then the winners that were sellected on May 20th, for the $25,000. AND $50,000. are a mistry-numbers not posted(who knows if they even picked someone) all in all bring back the fun of it(tired of the bread)wish there was an easier fun way to be a winner.
I went into my Albertsons early one morning and the kid gave my a stack of like 40 of the game pieces.
Problem is I did not try to scan until today but game is over. Curious if I squandered away $1 million?
Anyway I can back check my pieces?
Thanks!.
Same happened to me–sadly, I recycled about 40 myself. You unfortunately cannot.