For many Americans, the word casino may evoke glamorous visions of James Bond elegance or high-stakes poker drama—but a new gaming venue is flipping the script with a much more colorful twist: UNO.
This week, the iconic family-friendly card game will take center stage at a new themed suite in Las Vegas, with more UNO-centric venues expected to pop up across the country.
The Palms Casino Resort is playing a wild card by launching the first-ever “UNO Social Club”, located just off the Vegas Strip. According to Mattel, the toymaker behind the beloved game, similar venues are already in the works in other U.S. cities.
It's still unclear whether UNO gameplay in Vegas will involve real-money wagering. Newsweek reached out to both Mattel and Palms for comment outside normal business hours and is awaiting clarification. The publication is also seeking to confirm which other cities will soon be home to UNO Social Clubs.
Why It Matters
UNO has become a staple in American households—with the National Museum of Play estimating that around 80% of U.S. homes own a copy. The museum even dubbed it "America’s favorite game."
Now, with the opening of the UNO Social Club at Palms, the classic card game is entering a whole new playing field.
To build excitement, Mattel hosted a contest in May, offering one lucky winner and a guest a free weekend stay at the resort, just in time for the club’s opening from Friday, July 18, through Sunday. According to a press release from Palms, the duo will stay in a technicolor suite decked out in UNO’s iconic red, yellow, blue, and green, complete with a private bowling alley and UNO-themed décor.