It’s time for McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) customers to roll the dice and play Monopoly again. And if they’re lucky, they could collect more than $200 when they pass Go. The top prize is a cool $1 million.

The bigger prizes, including lots of cash and a muscle car, may seem extravagant, but the bottom line is that McDonald’s always gets more than it gives with its yearly promotion. And cash-strapped consumers could be more likely than ever to join in the game. After all, unlike with a lottery ticket, you can eat your losing purchase.

Here’s what you can win and how to play:

Monopoly has been part of the fast-food company’s marketing arsenal since 1987. But this year marks a new high, with $200 million in total prizes. Among prizes other than the flagship million-dollar payday are a Ford Shelby, a $5,000 shopping spree and a vacation.

The playing pieces for the game are located on a number of menu items, including Big Macs, fries, hash browns, McNuggets, Filet-o-Fish, McCafe beverages and fountain drinks. The program will last until Nov. 1, but online players won’t face an expiration date for their playing pieces until Nov. 15.

So what’s in it for McDonald’s? Well, in October 2008, the company saw a hefty jump of more than 5% in same-store sales as Monopoly fever took hold. About 3.7 million people had registered to play that year, and more than 5 million prizes have been awarded. Though no gains coincided with the 2009 Monopoly season, a plush pot in this year’s promotion may entice eaters.

It’s worth noting that McDonald’s hardly needs Monopoly to survive. This summer, it reported a second-quarter profit increase of 12% and just boosted its dividend again recently. McDonald’s has a history of raising dividends every year since it paid its first dividend in 1976, and that brings the forward annual dividend yield as of Sept. 23, 2010, to 3.27%.

So I guess it’s only right for McDonald’s to share the wealth with diners — even if those consumers face long odds.

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