The popular card game Uno is making its way to casinos in Las Vegas. This follows similar moves by major entertainment brands that are using well-known board and game show licenses in gambling products.

Uno is a fast-paced game in which the main objective is to get rid of all your cards before the other players. Owned by toy manufacturer Mattel, it already has a huge global audience. The game is now heading to casinos in Las Vegas and will be accompanied by pop-up Uno card rooms placed across the country.

Popular Licenses Moving to Gambling Sectors

The move follows a range of licenses, both from traditional board games and television gameshows, that have moved to the gambling sector. This is to cater to a new wave of casino players who want experiences that are easier to pick up and play, and faster than other types of traditional gambling titles.

Examples are plentiful. Plinko is one game that originally appeared on the game show “The Price is Right” as a mini game. Now, it can be found in many online casinos. Involving a large board with pegs, tokens are dropped from the top and fall down into a selection of different pockets. Depending on the pocket the token falls in, it can dictate if players lose their bet or have a multiplier added to it. Originally, this was done for prizes, but the digital versions have adapted this for online casino play.

In some instances, whole game shows have moved to the online forum. It is now easy to find a range of Wheel of Fortune titles, based on slot games and with interactive live elements. Titles such as ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ and ‘Deal or No Deal’ are also regular fixtures at online casinos.

Uno is not the only game to make the change. Hasbro has been using its Monopoly licenses for some time in this sector. It began by utilising themed slots, and soon managed to create a unique live offering in partnership with major developers. This suggests that Mattel may be harnessing the power of its game licenses to follow a similar pattern.

Uno Making Its Home in Vegas

Uno will take place in nighttime social clubs. A recent press release by the company stated that it will provide a more adult location for enthusiasts to enjoy the game. Located at the Palms Casino Resort, the Uno lounge will have dedicated gaming tables, dealers, and a range of Uno titles, along with expansions. Some of these expansions will only be available in the suite.

The room has been described as being adorned with the technicolour palette known by Uno players. As well as décor inspired by the game, it also has a private bowling alley. A contest on the social platform TikTok will announce the opening, with winners being invited to the suite.
Pop-up social clubs will then follow and begin to open up across the country. All of these will be used for UNO tournaments. They are also said to include special refreshments, including drinks and photo stations.

Will Uno Rooms Involve Gambling?

Glaringly omitted from any correspondence has been clarification on whether Uno will be in any way linked to gambling. Making Las Vegas the first location of a lounge and allowing it to be marketed like this really suggests that it is the final goal. Yet nothing has been announced, and the topic was notable by its absence in announcements.

Across the US and the wider world, there are discussions taking place on what can and can not be done when it comes to gambling and online casino games. Anything targeting minors that could be perceived as an introduction to gambling could face legislative action. Yet so far, family brands such as Monopoly have leapt into the online casino world and not raised any eyebrows.

There is no reason that Uno can not follow the same path. Yet this initial foray may be Mattel checking to see if they face any sort of backlash. If not, there is no reason that its other franchises may not be used. These could include stalwarts like Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Master of the Universe.

Mattel also has a lot of retro franchises. These are older properties that have not been rebooted, which could prove attractive properties to those developing slot games. Titles like Dinky Toys, Big Jim, Crash Dummies, and Pulsar will appeal to millennial audiences who remember the original runs. Gambling franchises could be a way for the company to gain revenue from these lapsed properties, much as television and movie companies have done.

Las Vegas is touting itself as an all-in entertainment capital. While it still has casinos, it is increasingly creating multi-use entertainment venues for music, sport, and vacations. Thus, UNO could still benefit from being here without the need to transform its base game into one that needs wagers and cash prizes to flourish.