5:06pm UK, Monday July 24, 2006

Monopoly board game players can now pay for properties with debit cards.

Game makers Parker have phased out the standard multi-coloured cash in a new version.

180 Visa debit cards for Monopoly board game

The new debit card and reader

Players will instead use a Visa mock debit card to keep track of how much they win or lose.

It isinserted into an electronic machine where the banker taps in cardholders' earnings and payments.

Parker said replacing of cash with plastic showed the game was moving with the times.

Spokesman Chris Weatherhead said: "The new electronic Monopoly reflects the changing nature of society and the advancement of technology."

The new version follows a YouGov survey of 2,056 adults which showed 70% used cash less often than they did a decade ago.

It is part of an international deal between Parker and finance giant Visa, which designed the mock debit card and its electronic machine.

Monopoly Here and Now Electronic Banking costs around £24.99, compared to £12.99 for the standard "cash" version.