UNO: The Card Phenomenon Invented in Cincinnati

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UNO Card Game Photo Illustrations — Source: NurPhoto / Getty

Before it became a global game night staple, UNO was just a fun family workaround for the chaos that came with playing “Crazy Eights.” And, it all started in a barbershop right here in Reading, Ohio: a Cincinnati suburb with no clue it was about to create the most iconic card game in the world.

Back in 1971, local barber Merle Robbins, was dealing with more than fades and trims. At home, his family’s competitive streak was getting the best of their card nights. The culprit? Crazy Eights. The rules felt like a moving target, and arguments were a regular part of the game. So, Merle decided to remix the game into something more structured, but just as fun. He marked up a deck of cards with simple instructions, swapped aces for wilds, queens for skips, and dubbed it UNO, as in the Spanish word for “one.”

What started as a clever DIY solution quickly turned into a hit. The Robbins family played it non-stop and started sharing it with friends. Robbins believed in the game so much, he mortgaged his house to raise $8,000 and produce 5,000 copies. UNO’s first storefront? His barbershop in Reading.

Customers could walk in for a cut and leave with a deck. Local Cincinnati shops began carrying it, and word of mouth kept spreading. Robbins also got in contact with a K-mart manager in Florida who loved the game, advocated for it, and ultimately led to them in stores.

By 1972, UNO had outgrown the city. Merle sold the rights to a group led by Robert Tezak, a funeral director from Illinois. It sold for $50,000 plus a “dime royalty” on every game sold. Tezak launched International Games, Inc. to take UNO nationwide and it worked.

Within a year, the Robbins family had made back their investment, and Merle retired the same day he sold his barbershop.

From a handwritten deck to a mass-market sensation, it eventually landed in the hands of toy giant Mattel in 1992. Today, Mattel sells 17 UNO decks every minute, in more than 80 countries and 20 languages.

The game’s DNA hasn’t changed much since the Robbins family first sketched it out. The bright colors, skips, reverses, the heated “Draw 4”: they’re all still there. Groups may still argue about house rules (are we stacking or no?), but that’s part of the charm.

While there are countless special editions out now, some with customizable cards or themed decks, the core of UNO remains exactly what it was in 1971: a simple, joyful game designed to bring people together.

So the next time someone tries hits you with a Reverse + Draw Four combo, just remember… It all started right here in the Nasty ‘Nati.