[Gaming Ore]

Gaming Partners International (GPI) parent company of Paul-Son, Bud Jones and B&G has issued the following letter to at least one Las Vegas, major casino.



"Gaming Partners International USA, Inc. (“GPI USA”) has long been proud of our position as leaders in the casino currency industry. Additionally, we are ever mindful of our responsibilities to our employees, you as our customers, and the general public. I am writing you today to provide you with the latest information that is known and verified with respect to lead content in the Paulson® chips.

By way of background, in September 2002, Paul-Son Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Paul-Son Gaming Supplies, Inc., was acquired through a reverse acquisition. In 2004, Paul-Son Gaming Corporation became Gaming Partners International Corporation and its U.S. subsidiary Paul-Son Gaming Supplies, Inc. became GPI USA. The Paulson chips, often referred to as “clay chips”, have been manufactured since 1968 and have been widely distributed mainly in the U.S. ever since.

Until 1998, these clay chips all contained approximately 47% (that is 470,000 Parts Per Million, or “PPM”) of lead in order to give them the weight that dealers and players were used to. Since 1998, the Paulson chip has had significant reductions in its lead content resulting in chips sold between January 1998 and November 2006 having a lead content of a few thousand PPM to a maximum of 6,500 PPM (0.65% in weight) for most of the approximately 70 colors of the available palette with the exception of 6 colors for which no acceptable formulation had been found until the second part of 2006.

Since November 2006, none of the chips manufactured have had lead levels that exceeded 6,500 PPM (0.65% in weight). Directly as a result of our continuous reformulation processes, we are pleased to report that all Paulson chips manufactured since October of this year have a lead content of less than 50 PPM (0.005% in weight).

We fully recognize that the recent publicity has raised awareness of this issue and we regret that a more accurate portrayal of any potential risks was not included in the broadcast. In the past, we have researched the issue regarding the amounts of lead used in recent production of gaming chips and with the coverings on the chips and the normal usage of the chips, there is no case reported of absorbing lead through the hands or fingers. Nonetheless, it is our intent to continue to refine our formulations and further eliminate this metal from our chips.

As rapidly as possible, we will provide a personalized analysis of each of your orders so that you will be able to view the measurements for yourself. We are confident that you will find that the reformulated chips pose no significant or elevated risk to either your employees or patrons.

If there are any specific questions you have, rest assured that we will be responsive and provide you with whatever information necessary to maintain your confidence in our products and our reputation.

Sincerely yours, Gerard P. Charlier
President and Chief Executive Officer "

I make no comment. I am just providing the information as passed to the collecting hobby on TheChipBoard.com.

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

[tastic]

Thanks for posting this Jim! It would be interesting to match differences in chip feel and weight among casino sets produced at the different periods mentioned above as they transitioned from 47% lead to the current negligeable levels.

[imthatguy]

The difference in weight shouldn't be too much, they're using mercury now.

Unless you're eating your chips, or letting your children eat them, my suspicions were confirmed: it's not that big of a deal.

[MeridianFC]

This at least clarifies one thing that's been bugging me forever. The Paulsons I had that were manufactured before they switched formula per the above ( circa 1998 ) definitely feel different than everything that's come out since.

[pkf655]

Pre 1998 would be
vineyards
Crystal Parks


Were PNYs produced before 1998?

[hod]

It would be interesting to see how the most recent changes (2006) in chip formula compare with the issue of home chips 'warping' also.

[jdunford]

Originally Posted by pkf655

Pre 1998 would be
vineyards
Crystal Parks


Were PNYs produced before 1998?

...
Dunes
Cherries
...

(explains why my Cherries weighed in at nearly 12 g each...)

It will be interesting to find out what those 6 colours were that have been > 40% lead since 1998... wonder if they're in any home-market chips... wonder if they're white, blue, green, red, black, and purple... ???

[guinness]

Originally Posted by pkf655

Pre 1998 would be

About thousands and thousands of casino sets. PNY's are definitely post 98 as they feel identical to the $1, $5 and $25 Olivias which were made in ~2000. The $2 metallic gold Olivias and maybe the .50c Olivias surely feel like the "no substitute until 2006" category. Ritz tourney sets are surely pre 98. Those $100 are yummy leadness.

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by jdunford

(explains why my Cherries weighed in at nearly 12 g each...)

My arms still hurt from lifting them. They were by far the heaviest Paulson's I've ever played with.

[Felix]

I would bet $5 that the blue Pharaos are full of lead. That would also explain their immense color-transfer!