Update From DailyFinance.com -- McDonald's Monopoly game: A great promotion gone bad?

McDonald's Monopoly Online game is heating up around the Internet. People around the world can't get enough of this online game, which takes the wildly popular McDonald's Monopoly game to another level. In the McDonald's Monopoly Online game, McDonald's customers can win free food, electronics, cash, or find themselves with a $1,000,000 windfall just like in the regular game. What makes the online version of the McDonald's Monopoly game so thrilling, is that there are a bevy of secret codes, free pieces and additional chances to win through McDonald's Facebook page and Web site.

To help users make the most of the additional chances to win big, a host of articles have sprung up to help users play the McDonald's Monopoly Online game to win the big prizes. For great tips on McDonald's Monopoly Online game, visit these sites:

1. McDonald's Monopoly Online Game Board 2009: Free Codes and Links to Rare Online Monopoly Pieces

2. Cracking the infamous McDonald's Monopoly Game

3. McDonald's Monopoly 2009: Free Codes & Tips

4. Free McDonald's Monopoly Online Codes

5. Detailed McDonald's Monopoly Online Instructions

Like all sweepstakes, no purchase is necessary (although in the case of McDonald's Monopoly Online game, making as many purchases as possible certainly can help). To play McDonald's Monopoly Online game without parting with your hard-earned cash, follow these instructions:

To participate without making a purchase, mail a legibly handwritten, self-addressed, stamped envelope ("SASE") with sufficient postage and a return address (first and last name, street address, city, state, and zip or postal code) to:

2009 MONOPOLY at McDonald's Free Game Piece Request
P.O. Box 49189
Strongsville, OH 44149-0189

Happy playing! McDonald's Monopoly Online game can be fun to play in this economy, as winning something as small as a McFlurry can brighten your spirits, even as you go for the big prizes. McDonald's Monopoly Online game runs until November 16, 2009.