[Gaming Ore]

"OTY" stands for: "... of the Year", as in Chip of the Year, Token of the Year, Silver Strike of the Year and Card/Key of the Year.

Also known as the COTY, TOTY, SSOTY and CKOTY Awards, the OTY Awards is an annual contest run by the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club, Inc. to recognize the best casino issued chip, token, strike and slot card or room key for the preceeding year.

Winners are announced at the Club's annual Banquet, which preceeds the annual Convention and will take place this year on June 28th, at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV and will recognize those items issued during 2005.

I am mentioning this because one of my appointed positions within the the Club (The CC&GTCC) is the OTY Awards Chairman and I am responsible for running the annual contest. Based on the submission of up to five candidates, in each of the four OTY categories, by any of the CC&GTCC members, I tabulate and announce the top ten nominated contenders in each category. From there, the Club membership (but only those who took the time to make a nomination) is permitted to vote/judge the best of the Finalists.

That is the point that we are at now. I send to each Judge a color pamphlet, showing all Nominees, in actual size and ask them to vote for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finisher in each of the four categories. As an expediant, I also give those with Internet access an opportunity to view the Nominees and then vote on-line.

Since I display the Finalists on-line, I figured I would give everyone here on ChipTalk.net a glimpse of the Finalists. If you follow any one of the four links, below, you will go to the OTY Viewing Page for a specific OTY category. Once at any page you can navigate between all four pages by using the drop-down menu at the top-center of each page.

Sorry you won't be able to vote, but if you join now, you'll be able to participate next year!

The COTY and TOTY Awards have a longer history that the SSOTY and CKOTY Awards, and all past winners are displayed at the Club's website: http://www.ccgtcc.com/oty_awards.html

Chip of the Year: http://www.gamingore.com/gallery2005?dir=COTY

Token of the Year: http://www.gamingore.com/gallery2005?dir=TOTY

Silver Strike of the Year: http://www.gamingore.com/gallery2005?dir=SSOTY

Slot Card or Room Key of the Year: http://www.gamingore.com/gallery2005?dir=CKOTY

We use a weighted voting system, where all 1st place votes earn 5 points for the selected item, a 2nd place and 3rd place vote is given 3 points and 2 points respectively.

May you enjoy looking.

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

[CaptLego]

Great stuff.
I want one of those Atlantis Silver Strikes!

.... well, I better get myself signed up so I can vote next year.

[jamby]

Hi Jim,

Great information as usual and thanks for that. How did members go about submitting nominees and voting so far though? I've been a member for several months now and didn't receive any nomination information.

Just wondering so I don't miss out next year as well.

Thanks!

-jamby

Originally Posted by Gaming Ore

...I am responsible for running the annual contest. Based on the submission of up to five candidates, in each of the four OTY categories, by any of the CC&GTCC members, I tabulate and announce the top ten nominated contenders in each category. From there, the Club membership (but only those who took the time to make a nomination) is permitted to vote/judge the best of the Finalists.

[99%evil]

I like the TI silver strike...the palms playboy chip or the 4 queens one...I like the HO game token

[Gaming Ore]

Originally Posted by jamby

Hi Jim,

Great information as usual and thanks for that. How did members go about submitting nominees and voting so far though? I've been a member for several months now and didn't receive any nomination information.

Just wondering so I don't miss out next year as well.

Thanks!

-jamby

Jamby, sorry, but submission of nominations closed January 31st. I'll ask for nominations this December 31st for all of 2006. The submission deadline will again be January 31st. You can play in that one.

Jim

[Couga]

I didn't get around to nominating a chip this year so I had to sit the voting out.

The COTY is definitely a lot of fun. I am working on a display of the front and back (when different) of each chip that has been elected. I was thankful when I discovered the 2003 $50 Palms Playboy chip was the same on both sides (only had to buy 1) and felt the pain the following year when the HR Friday the 13th chip was voted COTY as the front and back are different (I only have one right now and have to buy another at $60+ sometime soon). I am really hoping that last years chip is not the newer Palms $50 as that will be another $110. I really like the 4 queens Vets day and the FItz St. Patricks day chips for last year.

Take Care,

Couga

[Gaming Ore]

Hey Couga....

I bet you haven't priced the 1991 COTY winner, Main Street Station, Rosey O'Grady's, $5 Chipco. Different on both sides at about $150 per chip!

Jim

[Couga]

Originally Posted by Gaming Ore

Hey Couga....

I bet you haven't priced the 1991 COTY winner, Main Street Station, Rosey O'Grady's, $5 Chipco. Different on both sides at about $150 per chip!

Jim

Doh... I forgot about that one. I only have one of those as well. I am ALWAYS scoping ebay for that one too.

Have you seen any of the others from that series? I once saw a "Apple Annies", the $25 chip on ebay.... It was overstamped by some canadian casino. I almost bought it, but the overstamp runied it for me. It went off for about $30 I think, I wish I had picked it up. I have never seen one since, overstamped or not.

Here are my oty chips



Enjoy all and Take Care,
Couga

[Gaming Ore]

Couga,

Very nice! I also have them all and many of the tokens, but the Silver Strikes are really hard ones (expensive) to get!

Jim