No, you can't gamble on UNO in Las Vegas, but here is how it could happen
Folks on social media went wild over the notion that UNO, the family card game, could be coming to Las Vegas as a new table game. But unfortunately, it was never in the cards.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Social media recently went wild over the notion that UNO, the family card game, could be coming to Las Vegas as a new table game. But unfortunately, that was never in the cards.
In mid-May, Mattel and Palms Casino Resort announced that Las Vegas would be the first home of an UNO Social Club, with multiple other venues planned for other cities.
“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, the vice president and global head of games at Mattel, said. “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.”
The Social Club opened this weekend, giving way to a wild draw of buzz that reached new heights amid apparent confusion.
“IT’S OFFICIAL. UNO IS OFFICIALLY BEING ADDED AS A TABLE GAME IN LAS VEGAS CASINOS,” DraftKings Casino, a branch of the sports betting company, posted Sunday on X.
Over 3 million people saw the post and comments began to question just how much players would bet on a UNO table game, skipping the truth. One day later, DraftKings Casino reversed its position and posted an update on X.
“UPDATE: UNO is NOT being added as a table game to Las Vegas casinos,” DraftKings Casino posted on X.
Mattel confirmed the news on UNO's social media Monday, saying, "We hate to be the bearers of bad news but the casino floor isn't ready for us yet."
"We've been told that while they do have tight security, it's not robust enough for UNO at this time," the post continued. "This isn't a Reverse card."
The company went on to confirm that the UNO Social Club is coming to bars in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas, in August. Mattel did not immediately respond to Nexstar's request for additional information.
Vegas gaming venue: UNO can be 'very emotional'
Down the street from the Palms Casino Resort, there is an alternative to the UNO-themed suite where the social club plays.
Meepleville, a card and tabletop community gaming venue, has been at the corner of Sahara and Decatur for a decade, and the owners understand the UNO buzz up the street.
“[UNO] is very emotional,” Wayne Schulatz, co-owner of Meepleville, told Nexstar's KLAS. “One time, my grandmother did take a swing at me once when I was nine. But that's it. Other than that, pretty smooth sailing.”
Schulatz said the draw of UNO stems from a place of nostalgia, familiarity, and everyone's playing confidence — real or otherwise. He noted the emotional connection some have to the game, especially when reflecting on playing it as a child.
“And now that they're all grown up and hanging out in Vegas, they're happy to go put some money on the line playing this game that they know they are good at, right?”
The proof of the rising popularity of card and tabletop games is displayed on Meepleville’s calendar. Staff told KLAS it sometimes gets too popular to reserve a table, but never too full to meet the community.
“The original owner opened it for that exact reason, trying to build community and have a place for people to come and participate in tabletop gaming,” Schulatz said. “He recently retired, and myself and two other folks came in and have just continued on the tradition. The vibe is very, very important.”
Could UNO come to a Vegas casino floor?
There’s a way for UNO to be available next to blackjack and poker tables in Las Vegas, but in order to avoid being discarded, it needs to file with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
The “New Game Evaluation Procedure” requires several initial documents: a letter requesting game approval, rules of play, dealing procedures, and $3,000. Mattel, the maker of UNO, would also need to detail the table layout, dealer procedures, and a proposed schedule, among several other points.
Then, UNO would have to undergo a game field trial at a select casino for a period lasting between 45 to 180 days.
So far, there has been no indication that UNO will become a game you can gamble on, at least at a Las Vegas casino.
The Gaming Control Board did, however, recently give the nod for 5-card Pai Gow to move forward in Las Vegas, marking one of the most recent casino floor entries.
Nexstar's Addy Bink contributed to this report.
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