UNO
by : Mattel
The game was originally developed in 1971 by Merle Robbins in Reading, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. When his family and friends began to play more and more, he spent $8,000 to have 5,000 copies of the game made. He sold it from his barbershop at first, and local businesses Began to sell it as well. Robbins later sold the rights to UNO to a group of friends headed by Robert Tezak, a funeral parlor owner in Joliet, Illinois, for $50,000 plus royalties of 10 cents per game. Tezak formed International Games, Inc., to market UNO, with offices behind his funeral parlor. The games were produced by Lewis Saltzman of Saltzman Printers in Maywood, Illinois. In 1992, International Games became part of the Mattel family of companies.
Fun Facts
Manufacturer:
Mattel
Recent Blogs
Newsletter
Empowering Every Child Through Play
Industry Commentary, Op-Ed
Celebrating 60 Years of Spirograph: A Creative Classic Comes Full Circle
Biographies and Interviews
Young Inventor Spotlight: Maria Schwartze
Press Release
CONNETIX® Debuts Exclusive Target U.S. Releases to Kick Off the Holiday Season
General
Apply by Aug. 22 to Present on the Toy Fair® 2026 University Stage
See more
Recent Wiki
COMPANIES
The Toy Foundation™ Delivers Holiday Cheer to Children in Need
COMPANIES
MINILAND’S NEW ANTI-BULLYING GAMES EARN PRESTIGIOUS MESH ACCREDITATION
MANUFACTURING, SUSTAINABILITY, TOY TESTING
Toy Association Advocates for Revised PFAS Reporting Requirements in Minnesota
BOOK REVIEWS
Game Review: Trouble
BOOK REVIEWS
Film Review: Forky Asks A Question
See more
POP's Got Talent
POP Entertainment
Randy Klimpert Shares his Ukulele Collection
POP Entertainment
Steve Casino Peanut Art
POP Entertainment
Everyone's Talking about POP!
POP Entertainment
Princess Etch - a Multi-Talented Etch A Sketch Artist
POP Entertainment
Joseph Herscher of Joseph' s Machines.
See more
Recent POPcast
Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games
Connie Vogelmann designed Apiary & Wyrmspan!
Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games
Bob Fuhrer... Is THE Crocodile Dentist!
Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games
Tom Dusenberry... Bought Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Avalon Hill!
Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games
Matt Leacock created Pandemic... the game!
Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games
Scott Brown and Tim Swindle... are Launching a New Sport!
See more
POPDuos
POPDuos: Interviews with Legends and Leaders
POPDuo: Richard Dickson, Mattel’s President & COO, and Kedar Narayan, Young Inventor Challenge AMB
POPDuos: Interviews with Legends and Leaders
POPDuo: Will Shortz and Josh Wardle
POPDuos: Legends and Leaders Explore Creativity
POP Duo: Elan Lee, Co-Founder, Exploding Kittens.and Jeff Probst, Host and Exec Producer, Survivor
POPDuos: Legends and Leaders Explore Creativity
POP Duo: David Fuhrer, MNG Director, Blue Sq Innovations & Shawn Green, past Dodgers & Mets MLB Star
POPDuos: Legends and Leaders Explore Creativity
POP Duo: Bob Fuhrer, Founder, Nextoy and Tom Fazio, Golf Course Designer
See more
Featured Articles
The Bloom Report
Toy Inventors--The Heart and Soul of the Industry
The Bloom Report
Brian Turtle: 'Endless' Stories, Advice, Kevin Bacon and More! tBR Person of the Week
Biographies and Interviews
Jonathan Levy on Jon2.0 - from Co-Founding Mastermind Toys to Spin Master
Biographies and Interviews
Andrew Perlmutter's Journey from Glencoe to Funko with Crazy Ideas that turned out Golden
See more
