Latest news with #MerleRobbins
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Las Vegas brings popular card game Uno to casino in stunning development
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Las Vegas isn't exactly a city synonymous with family friendly fun, but a new venture from the Palms Casino Resort is looking to bring some good, clean fun to Sin City. The Palms launched the first-ever 'UNO Social Club' in Vegas this past weekend,, and there are plans for more locations to launch across the U.S. later this year, according to Mattel, which owns UNO. '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,' Ray Adler, Vice President and Global Head of Games at Mattel told Newsweek. '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.' 3 A shot from the Uno Social Club. @uno/Instagram The Palms, which is located off the strip in Vegas, turned its Kingpin Suite into a UNO-themed paradise, complete with colorful decor and a private bowling alley. UNO noted on Instagram that the games were not placed on the casino floors directly, despite some rumors. 3 A look at the Uno Social Club. @uno/Instagram 'We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but the casino floor isn't ready for us yet,' the account wrote. 'We've been told that while they do have tight security, it's not robust enough for UNO at this time.' UNO, which was invented by a barber named Merle Robbins in 1971 and was acquired in 1992 by Mattel, the second-largest toymaker in terms of revenue (behind Lego) has grown into one of the most successful brands in gaming over the last 30 years. 3 Uno is going to be bringing in newcomers to the casino in Las Vegas. Getty Images Mattel and the Palms are banking on the game's popularity to be strong enough to get people away from their kitchen tables and into brick-and-mortar UNO-inspired clubs. According to the Palms, more UNO Social Clubs will pop up around the country later in 2025, using bars in major cities as hosts. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps The announcement noted that the events will feature UNO-themed drink menus, tournaments and more. Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
New UNO Casino Club Hits Las Vegas With Nationwide Rollout Planned
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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. 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. An Uno card game is underway in this archive stock picture from February 2014. An Uno card game is underway in this archive stock picture from February 2014. Getty Images 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. The new UNO Social Club at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new UNO Social Club at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Palms Casino Resort 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.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘You can't do that!' — How Uno became the game that brings out everyone's inner tyrant
Each set of Uno cards that have been produced for more than five decades comes with written rules on how to play the game. But that doesn't mean everyone who plays Uno plays by the same rules — which has caused plenty of disagreements over the years. Uno was invented in 1971, and for the past 54 years, friends, family members and lovers have been quarreling over how to play. Can you play a +4 on a +2 and make the next person draw six? Can you play double cards if they are the same number and color? If you get skipped, can you play a skip on top of it, therefore skipping the person next to you instead? The drama has been so intense that Uno has entered the chat, posting the original rules on social media. Still, some people don't buy it ... Despite the drama of it all, people can't stop playing, and in 2018, the colorful numbers game was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, alongside pinball and the Magic 8 Ball. Invented by an Ohio barber named Merle Robbins after a dispute with his son over the rules to Crazy Eights, the game has taken many forms since its conception: Uno Elite, Uno Attack, Uno Show 'Em No Mercy, Giant Uno, etc. It doesn't matter which one is played; tears are still shed. When the +2 gets played against you for the fifth time, it starts to get personal. I recently sat down to play the game ('High School Musical' edition) with family members ages 37, 13, 9 and 4. The first argument concerned the number of cards each person receives. Seven or five? The youngest started. After a reverse card was played, the question was asked if someone who was two turns away could play their reverse card of the same color on top of it, even though it wasn't their turn yet. 'No, that's not how it works,' the 9-year-old said. But the 13-year-old quickly rebutted that: 'Yes, it is. You can stack.' The 37-year-old agreed that yes, you can stack, but the reverse won't apply to the person whose turn it actually is. The 13-year-old didn't agree with that. 'We all have to agree upon the rules before we proceed,' the 37-year-old said, not even three minutes into the game, followed by the 9-year-old slamming their cards on the table, saying with sass in their tone that they no longer wanted to play. It seems only natural that the game fosters family hostility, since that's what led to its creation. When asked how the game affects their own lives, one person told the Deseret News that her boyfriend gets so frustrated playing that they had to stop because she was losing 'attraction' to him. Another said she liked to play, and is even 'passionate about the rules,' but only 'when it benefits me,' she said. 'I play dirty.' Ray Adler, vice president and global head of games at Mattel, Uno's owner, told The Wall Street Journal that the game's paradox of rivalry and simplicity is what maintains its popularity. 'Best friends become merciless. Seven-year-olds turn strategic,' he said. 'This is what makes Uno special — universal accessibility meets authentic emotions disguised as family fun.' If you actually want to know the rules of the original game, you can find them here. Just don't forget to say, 'Uno!'
