5 Major Rule Changes Shaking Up ‘The Price Is Right’ In The Drew Carey Era

The Price Is Right, television’s longest-running game show, has captivated audiences for decades with its simple premise: guess the price, win the prize. However, to stay fresh and keep up with modern prize values and sponsorship opportunities, the show is not immune to change. As of December 2025, the show, now in its 54th season, has implemented several significant rule and format adjustments that have fundamentally altered the experience for contestants and viewers alike, proving that even a classic can evolve.

These recent updates go far beyond simple prize inflation; they include major rule revisions to iconic games like Plinko and the introduction of groundbreaking, high-stakes sponsored pricing games. The changes reflect a strategic move by producers to inject new excitement and offer life-changing cash prizes, ensuring the legacy of the show continues to thrive under host Drew Carey. If you haven't tuned in lately, prepare to be surprised by how much the game has changed.

The New Era of Pricing: Prize and Game Overhauls

The most significant and talked-about changes in the current era revolve around the prize structure of beloved games and the introduction of new, high-stakes additions. These adjustments directly impact the maximum amount of money a contestant can win, raising the stakes to levels unseen in the Bob Barker era.

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1. The Lion's Share: A New $500,000 Sponsored Game

The single biggest format change to hit the show is the introduction of a brand-new, high-roller pricing game called The Lion's Share. This game is a direct result of a partnership between the show's producers, Fremantle, and the online sportsbook and casino giant, BetMGM. The inclusion of a major corporate sponsor for a dedicated pricing game is a modern innovation for the classic show.

• The Game: The Lion's Share features a massive board with 40 numbered spaces. Contestants are tasked with correctly pricing five small prizes.
• The Stakes: Unlike traditional games where a car or a trip is the main prize, this game offers a top cash prize of up to $500,000. This half-million-dollar jackpot is one of the largest single prizes ever offered in the show's daytime history, instantly changing the financial landscape of a winning contestant's life.
• The Impact: This move highlights the show's willingness to embrace modern, high-value prizes and corporate sponsorships, appealing to a new generation of viewers while offering a huge incentive for contestants to "Come On Down!"

2. Plinko's "Golden" New Twist

Plinko, arguably the most famous pricing game in television history, has received a significant rule tweak that gives contestants an extra edge. The change, often referred to by fans as the "Golden Twist," occurred in a recent season, injecting fresh excitement into the classic game.

• The Original Rule: Contestants traditionally start with one chip and can earn up to four additional chips by correctly guessing the price of four small prizes within a specified range. This meant a maximum of five chips.
• The New Rule: Host Drew Carey explained that the new rule allows a contestant to win four more chips, potentially increasing the total number of chips they can drop. This is a major increase in opportunity, offering more chances to hit the coveted $10,000 or $50,000 center slot.
• The Intent: By increasing the potential number of chips, the show increases the probability of a massive payout, creating more viral moments and boosting the excitement surrounding the already legendary game.

3. Spelling Bee's Prize Shift: From Car to Cash

Another classic pricing game, Spelling Bee, saw a major adjustment to its grand prize, favoring a large cash award over the traditional new car. This change was noted by fans who are used to the show's focus on vehicles as the ultimate prize for many games.

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• The Change: The top prize for a successful run on Spelling Bee was recently changed to a substantial $25,000 cash prize.
• Fan Reaction: This shift generated buzz among the fanbase, as the game is historically associated with winning a car. The move to a large, fixed cash prize simplifies the prize structure for that specific game and offers a universally desired reward, which may be more appealing to some contestants than a specific model of car.

The Unwritten Rules: Subtle Shifts in Classic Gameplay

While the big-ticket changes grab headlines, the show has also made subtle, yet important, adjustments to its format and contestant interactions, particularly in the wake of global events and the transition to the Drew Carey era.

4. The Return of the Audience and Contestants' Row Spacing

The most visible, non-game-related change was the gradual return to a full audience and the corresponding adjustments to the set. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show ran without an audience, a significant departure from its energetic format. As the audience returned, subtle set changes were implemented.

• Bidders' Row: While the core rule—bidding closest to the actual retail price without going over to advance—remains untouched, the "One Bid" monitors and the contestants on Contestants' Row were temporarily spaced out to adhere to safety guidelines. This visual change has largely reverted, but it demonstrated the production's ability to adapt the core structure to external requirements.
• Consolation Prizes: In past eras, contestants who failed to make it past the Bidders’ Row often received a small consolation prize. This practice has largely been discontinued, focusing the rewards on those who successfully make it onto the stage to play a pricing game.

5. Prize Value Inflation and The Big Wheel

While not a "rule change" in the technical sense, the staggering increase in the value of prizes has fundamentally changed the strategy of the game, particularly in the final rounds. The show has had to continually adjust prize values to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of luxury goods, making the winning bids in the Showcase Showdown far higher than they were in the 1980s or 1990s.

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• Showcase Showdown Strategy: The rule for winning a Double Showcase Win—bidding within $250 of the actual retail price without going over on your own showcase—has not changed. However, with showcases now routinely valued in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, the margin for error is much smaller relative to the total prize value.
• The Big Wheel: The rules for the Big Wheel remain static: spin closest to $1.00 without going over to win the right to advance to the Showcase. The $1,000 bonus for hitting $1.00 and the subsequent $10,000 bonus spins have remained the same, serving as a reliable pillar of the show's format.

The Enduring Legacy of 'The Price Is Right'

Despite the implementation of new games like The Lion's Share, major prize adjustments in games like Spelling Bee, and exciting twists to classics like Plinko, the fundamental spirit of The Price Is Right remains intact. The show’s longevity, now stretching into its 54th season, is a testament to its simple, engaging format and its ability to evolve.

The ongoing changes under host Drew Carey and the producers demonstrate a commitment to keeping the show relevant and its prizes appealing. Whether you are a fan of the classic games like Cliff Hangers, Golden Road, or the new, high-stakes sponsored games, the core challenge is the same: the ability to accurately guess the price of everyday (and not-so-everyday) items. These modern rule changes are not just updates; they are a strategic evolution ensuring that the iconic phrase, "Come On Down!", will continue to ring out for years to come.