Organising a game night? Don’t forget Uno! If you haven’t played the game before, you’re in the minority. It’s estimated that around 80 percent of game-playing households have played the popular Uno card game. Since its release in 1971, the game has sold well and is now played all over the world. This comes as no surprise, seeing as the game is inexpensive, easy to learn, and suitable for players of all ages.
Most card games appeal to either children or adults; however, Uno card game is different. It’s one of the only card games that can be truly enjoyed by players of all ages. As the rules are so simple, which is another major benefit. Want to know more about Uno card game? You’re in the right place! At casino NetBet, we explore how to play Uno, the Uno card game origin, and what makes the game so popular.
History of the Uno card game
So, who invented Uno game? The game was created in 1971 by a barber named Merle Robbins. Merle and his family enjoyed playing card games, particularly classic crazy eights. Despite its popularity, the rules of crazy eights are a little complex – particularly for children. Kids often struggle to remember the special rules that can change throughout the game.
To help his family understand the rules, Merle adapted the rules slightly and decided to write the action of each card directly on the back with a marker pen. It wasn’t long before the family realised that they’d essentially created an entirely new game. Unlike crazy eights, the rules didn’t change throughout the game, and they were written on the back of each card for clarity. This allowed much younger players to enjoy the game, in addition to the more experienced adults.
Believing in their product, Merle and his wife used their home as collateral and secured a loan to have 5000 copies of the game printed and sold. The family then purchased a camper van and travelled around the states, selling the game to campground clubhouses. By the time they returned, they’d sold all the stock and ordered more.
Merle soon decided the Uno card game was ready to move to the next level. He hired a marketer named Bob Tezak to redesign the game and its packaging and promote it all over the country. Before long, Merle was able to retire from the barber business and live off the 10-cent royalties from each deck that Tezak sold.
Unsurprisingly, there have been many Uno card game variations over the years. Some of the most popular include an Emoji’s edition, Thomas the Tank Engine, Teen Titans and the NFL. There have also been many Uno variations based on video games.
How to play Uno Game?
New to the game? Don’t panic! Here, we explore exactly how to play Uno. The objective of Uno card game is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. Before putting down your second from last card, you must remember to shout UNO to avoid a penalty. If you forget, you must draw four additional cards from the draw pile.
Before the game starts, the dealer gives each player seven cards. The remaining cards are placed face-down in the middle of the table as the “draw pile”. The dealer removes the first card from the draw pile and places it face-up on the table.
Each player then takes it in turns to place one of their cards face-up on the pile. To be able to place a card, however, it must match the upmost face-up card in the stack in either colour or number. If you don’t have a matching card but you have a Wild Card, you can choose to play this card. Wild cards allow the player to choose any colour. If you don’t have a matching card in your hand, you must take additional cards from the draw pile until you get one that you can play. Once the player matches the face-up card, the game moves onto the next player in a clockwise direction.
If the last card is taken from the draw pile, all the cards that have been played must be shuffled and used to form a new draw pile. This can continue until somebody wins the game.
Why is the Uno card game so popular?
So, why is the Uno card game so popular? Firstly, everybody loves easy card games. Uno is simple enough to be played by people of all ages, making it the perfect game for a family game night. The rules of Uno are easy to follow. Card games like Uno are also popular among adults. A group of friends can play the Uno card game together and have a great time. The Uno card rules are straightforward and easy to remember, allowing adults to play the game without too much fuss. This makes the Uno card game ideal for dinner parties, date nights, or just a night in with friends.
Uno card game online
If you’re a fan of online games, you’re in luck! You can now play the Uno game online here. If you’d rather stick to traditional card games, however, that’s fine too. At NetBet, we have a wide selection of online casino games, including Baccarat, Blackjack, and other card games. Simply create an account to start playing today.
