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Can I create my own version of Monopoly and distribute it online or physically ?
I see that there were patents filed in 1923 . Can I create an improvement on the existing game and sell it online ?
If there is any law/copyright protecting this, is it per country/continent ?
You would likely be more concerned with copyright law rather than patent law in this case, especially given that as you have noticed, the patents have expired.
There is something of a precedent for what you want to do. In 1975, Ralph Anspach made a game called Anti-Monopoly (which, by the way, is a pretty interesting game - we owned it, and at the time, as a kid, I had no idea how significant this was). After a little less than ten years of litigation, Anspach won the right to continue publishing his game. However, Parker Brothers ended up with the trademark, licensing it to Anspach, whose game is still in print.
You will probably need to be aware of how copyright law works where you live and where you plan to distribute the game. (If you're thinking about online distribution, then that may mean laws where your customers live, not just where you live or where the servers are.) If you are planning on making money from this, you should consult with a lawyer to ensure that what you're doing is consistent with applicable laws; advice you get on this site is no substitute for professional advice.
There are several elements to a game... and most but not all are protectable.
Exactly which varies widely from country to country.
Some games that are explicitly legal reworks in the US are proven infringements in France, for example.
You need to look at where you're writing at, and intending to sell to.
Even where it's legal, plagiarism is still generally considered unethical; make it different enough to be worthwhile.
In the US, the literal text is protected by copyright, as is the board art (and by derivation, the layout of spaces). The Title is a trademark, as are certain artistic elements. The Chance and Community Chest cards are trademark and copyright. The specific property names and the rent and prices are pretty much copyright. The process of play was Patent, but the patent is long expired. And, given later reforms, the flow of play is no longer protectable.
However, remember: I'm not a lawyer, and I'm surely not YOUR lawyer - engage a good Intellectual Properties lawyer before publishing a derivative. Find out what your local rights are, and how far your can go.
There are a number of Monopoly "knock-offs." I believe, for example, that Playboy created one called "Speculation" set in Chicago.
Game CONCEPTS are not copyrightable. What IS copyrightable is "text" regarding rules, properties, etc. Basically, if you apply the grade school test, "write it in your own words," you're probably ok.
Most gamers have played the game, so you won't get any mileage out of the game itself. What MIGHT appeal is a local version aimed at specific audiences. Perhaps one set in Bombay (Mumbai) for Indians or Hong Kong (for Chinese), using local street names, currencies, etc. Or one in cyberspace for "techies." The currency amounts are the things that are most "out of date" in the original Monopoly game.
