False reactions
Social media was sent into a frenzy recently after it appeared as if casino-goers were going to have the option to skip, reverse, and wild card their opponents.
DraftKings, one of America’s leaders in sports betting and casino gaming, erroneously posted on X (formerly Twitter) that UNO was going to be an official table game in Vegas.
“IT’S OFFICIAL. UNO IS OFFICIALLY BEING ADDED AS A TABLE GAME IN LAS VEGAS CASINOS” DraftKings Casino said on Sunday in a post that registered 3.5 million impressions.
The company retracted its comment on Monday and confirmed that UNO gambling would not be offered to the public.
Instead, Palms will offer a free three-night stay at its casino-resort in an UNO-themed penthouse. Select guests, including online personalities with large followings, were invited to visit, have UNO-themed cocktails, and play the popular card game.
Anyone who believed that they had a chance to wager on the game was sadly mistaken. Palms isn’t allowed to offer UNO gambling events since UNO is not included in the Nevada regulator’s catalog of approved betting games and events.
“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,” said Mattel Vice President and Global Head of Games Ray Adler. “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.”
More UNO events to come
Guests at the event will have the chance to play a few limited-time UNO variants, which include:
- UNO Golf - Clear columns and avoid high-point cards to lower your score
- UNO Teams - Work together with a partner
- UNO Show’em No Mercy - UNO with new penalties and knockouts
Mattel has not announced upcoming cities and dates on its Social Club tour, though there are expected to be more engagements after the one at Palms. The company confirmed that UNO social clubs will take place at bars and venues “in major U.S. cities.”
UNO was created by Merle Robbins, an American barber from Reading, Ohio in 1971. He invented the game as a way to resolve arguments with his family members over the rules of another card game, Crazy Eights.
He sold the concept to International Games in 1972 for $50,000 plus 10 cents for every copy of the game that was sold.
Mattel bought UNO from International Games in 1992. According to Issuu, more than 150 million copies of the game have been sold worldwide. That means $15 million to the family of Robbins, who died at 72 in 1984.
