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By Chloe Mayer
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For many Americans, casinos may conjure up glamourous images of James Bond-style sophistication and high roller strategy playoffs, but now a new venue is due to launch—based around UNO.
The card game, popular with families and children thanks to its simple rules, will be the main attraction at a dedicated suite in Sin City this week, with similar UNO venues planned nationwide.
Palms Casino Resort has thrown a wild card by opening the first-ever "UNO Social Club" just off the Strip, in Las Vegas, Nevada. More UNO clubs are expected to open across the U.S. later this year, according to toymaker Mattel, which owns the brand.
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It is unclear whether players will actually be able to gamble on the game in Vegas and Newsweek has reached out by email, outside of usual working hours, to Mattel and Palms seeking clarification and comment. Newsweek has also sought to find out which other cities can expect to see UNO Social clubs in the future.
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Why It Matters
The popular card game UNO is owned by an estimated 80 percent of American households, according to the National Museum of Play, which dubbed it "America's favorite game."
Now, new "UNO Social Clubs" are being planned for venues across the country, with the first one throwing open its doors at Palms.
Mattel ran a competition in May offering a free stay at the resort for a winner and their guest, with the pair set to enjoy the UNO Social Club from Friday (July 18) through Sunday. A press release circulated by Palms at the time said the two guests would enjoy "a technicolor suite drenched in the brand's iconic red, yellow, blue, and green colors, packed with UNO-themed features, including a private bowling alley and game-inspired décor."
What To Know
UNO was invented by a barber called Merle Robbins in 1971, with toy giant Mattel acquiring the rights to the game in 1992. It was a canny decision, because an UNO set was sold in the U.S. almost every second in 2023, with nearly 60 games sold each minute, according to a CNN profile of the game.
Even family pets appear to like the game, with one viral video (above) showing a dog beating a 5-year-old.
Players each hold a handful of cards, and must try to discard them based around matching the colors, numbers, or symbols, to the last card laid down by a previous player. When they have just one card remaining, they must shout "UNO," which means "one" in both Spanish and Italian, to indicate they've nearly won. Various action cards or wild cards shake up the game throughout.
The Uno Social Club will feature a number of UNO game tables, including new extensions, and a personal UNO game dealer who will shuffle the decks "in style," Palms said. UNO decks will include UNO Golf, UNO Teams, and UNO Show 'em No Mercy.
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More UNO Social Clubs are due to "pop-up across the country later this year, with experiences in bars and venues in major U.S. cities," Palms said of the Mattel rollout, adding: "Each event will transform everyday hotspots into the ultimate game night destination with UNO-themed drink menus, tournament-style play, photo moments, and more."
Mattel often releases new versions and extensions for the game, and even ran a job advert seeking a "chief UNO player" for a four-week position that would pay $17,000 in August 2023. The brand also moved with the times by launching cell phone apps several years' ago, but seems to be hoping there's still an appetite for real-world play with its new social clubs.
What People Are Saying
Ray Adler, Vice President and Global Head of Games at Mattel said: "We created UNO Social Clubs to reimagine what game night can be—bringing people together for real-world fun, connection, and a bit of friendly competition. The UNO Social Club in Las Vegas is just the beginning, and we're excited to see how these new experiences inspire players to show up, play hard, and make unforgettable memories."
What Happens Next
UNO fans should head to Vegas this weekend, or keep an eye on Mattel's publicity announcements to see whether an UNO Social Club is planned for their city later this year.
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