Confessions of a chip junkie

SpeakEasy · #1 (**permalink**) 03-28-2005, 12:09 AM

So I guess its time to admit that I just might be a chip junkie.

First trip to Las Vegas was in 1996 to celebrate a family wedding anniversary. I am naturally a collector (life-long comic book collector), and I thought it would be neat to collect some Vegas casino chips. From my winnings at various casinos, I pocketed three $1 chips and one $5 chip. The collection was started.

Since that first trip, I have been to Vegas at least once each year, and during a few years I made several extended trips related to business. I continued to collect casino chips, and now have a large-ish collection of $1 and $5 chips. I've picked up chips from riverboat casinos here and there, and family is on notice to help me add to the collection.

Some have puzzled at the collection. "You have several hundred dollars in casino chips. How will you ever get your money back? Did you actually pay for these?"

"I don't plan to get my money back -- they're a collection. And I did pay for them, technically, but almost entirely from winnings. I just pocket some chips when I am up."

Been playing home poker games with a group of friends for about a decade. Year before last, I picked up a set of 500 "Desert Palace" denom chips. I've since learned that these are the dreaded (for some) 11.5 gram chips with metal inserts. They are perfect for the home games, and everyone really likes them. I've even upgraded to add some higher denominations for the tournaments that are the hit of the party.

I've been reading and posting on 2+2 for some time. I just recently stumbled across the chip discussions in the "Home Game" forum, and now this board. Of course, now I'm itchin' to buy a set of Paulson James Bond chips, or some of the Pharaoh chips with the group buy. My Desert Palace chips do sound a little too metallic...

Curious how others got started collecting, and if others here focus primarily on poker chips or casino chips. Most of the posts here seem to be related to poker chip sets, but I haven't read all that much yet. I think I am going to end up collecting both...

TenPercenter · #2 (**permalink**) 03-28-2005, 12:27 AM

Great post man, and welcome to the forums. Glad to have you here.

smoore · #3 (**permalink**) 03-28-2005, 11:05 AM

I collect old casino cards. If the casino is out of business it's even better. My family is also on notice to get them for me.

Instead of a chip collection I think I'm going to eventually put together a cash game set for my home game out of chipcos (I'd do paulson but the're too damn expensive). I'll buy a few racks of $5 from some defunct casino on ebay, get more than a few racks of $1 over time from either a vegas casino or a local CO casino and then buy some $0.25 chipcos from a "stock" pattern... whichever matches my other two chips best.

chipper57AA · #4 (**permalink**) 03-28-2005, 03:23 PM

I've been collecting casino chips since I can remember. It started back in the 60's when my parents went to Vegas and brought me back a $1 and $5 chip from one of the hotels. I kept that and displayed that in my room for years.

When I got old enough to go to Vegas myself, I wanted to grab a souvenier from every casino I visited. So as I visited casino's I'd keep either a $1 chip or token from each place I visited. I also started noticing that casino's issued special limited edition $5 chips and started collecting those as well. I even kept the odd $0.25, $.050 and $2.50 chips I'd find on occasion.

Then a few years back I found that there is a national club for chip collectors: Casino Chip and Gaming Token Collectors Club (CCGTCC). I read up on them and found them to be a great source of information. I even found a local club in my home state (Colorado). Basically, if your state has casinos then there is probably a local chapter of the CCGTCC there as well.

Before I knew it, I was buying and selling chips on eBay and adding to my collection. Now my collection is well over 200 pieces and my bank account is much lower for it. I will eventually sell these pieces (hopefully for more than what I paid for them).

Chip collecting is a great hobby. And as expensive as you can afford. Must be 10000's of different chips and tokens out there. So if you do collect - consider specializing in a particular type ($1 chips, chips from a certain casino, etc...)

X-Files · #5 (**permalink**) 03-29-2005, 09:42 AM

I am starting to collect chips also. I am starting late though. I was in Vegas a couple of years ago and did not even think to get chips (although I do have an Excalibur $1 chip because that is where we stayed). Now that the poker boom took off and I started getting into the chips to I am going to start collecting. I do not know when I will get back to Vegas (3 young children) but my parents are going in May and I am going to get them to get me chips from everywhere they go. I have a $1 Bud Jones from the Borgota when I was there briefly (we were only there for a couple of hours). I think I will just stick with the $1 for now but I am sure I will want to add more denominations. I have never really been a collector but for some reason this has caught my attention. My wife thinks I am nuts.

qheuie · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 12:08 PM

i just started collecting, too. we went to vegas at the beginning of march and i dragged my fiance to 14 casinos to get $1 chips for the collection (some $5, too)

how do you all display your chips? or do you at all? right now i just have them in a rack but i would like to make a wall hanging display "plaque".

here is a list of the $1 chips i have so far (not many, i know)
Bellagio
Mirage
Hard Rock ($5 The Who chip)
Luxor
Venetian
Binions
Golden Nugget
Mandalay Bay
Orleans
Palms
New York - New York
Monte Carlo
Excalibur
MGM Grand
The Plaza
Old Dunes ($5 chip)

jojobinks · #7 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qheuie

i just started collecting, too. we went to vegas at the beginning of march and i dragged my fiance to 14 casinos to get $1 chips for the collection (some $5, too)

how do you all display your chips? or do you at all? right now i just have them in a rack but i would like to make a wall hanging display "plaque".

here is a list of the $1 chips i have so far (not many, i know)
Bellagio
Mirage
Hard Rock ($5 The Who chip)
Luxor
Venetian
Binions
Golden Nugget
Mandalay Bay
Orleans
Palms
New York - New York
Monte Carlo
Excalibur
MGM Grand
The Plaza
Old Dunes ($5 chip)

photos?

qheuie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojobinks

photos?

i don't have any yet. i am still working on getting a website made up. i will certainly post the link here when i get it done.

CaptLego · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qheuie

i just started collecting, too. we went to vegas at the beginning of march and i dragged my fiance to 14 casinos to get $1 chips for the collection (some $5, too)

how do you all display your chips? or do you at all? right now i just have them in a rack but i would like to make a wall hanging display "plaque".

These are available. The next time you're in Vegas, be sure to visit Gamblers General Store. You can find a variety of display frames there, and at their website:
http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com/
(do a search for chip frame, and you'll find several)

Several other online vendors have these, too, but offhand I don't have the links handy.

qheuie · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptLego

These are available. The next time you're in Vegas, be sure to visit Gamblers General Store. You can find a variety of display frames there, and at their website:
http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com/
(do a search for chip frame, and you'll find several)

Several other online vendors have these, too, but offhand I don't have the links handy.

thanks for the link. being the self proclaimed handyman i am i think i am going to make one out of oak plywood and some glass. i will post pics of it when i get around to it. jeez.. all these projects to do.