December Update

Five new chips found their way to my collection via @julieanne19.  Don't follow for her updates, follow for her profile picture.  On to the Christmas chips:

1.  Foxwoods Casino - Mashantucket, CT.  Been near here many times for work, but never was able to convince Tom to make the 45 minute trip to nation's largest casino - according to a 2005 report on square footage devoted to gambling.  I believe this is one of their earlier chips, but I can't find much on it online.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some more details on this one soon.

2.  The D - Downtown Las Vegas.  Used to be Fitzgerald's.  Haven't been since the name change, but they are apparently swapping out the "Luck of the Irish" them Fitzgerald's used to boost for a more modern feel.  I kind of was hoping they'd make The D like Detroit.  But then I couldn't figure out a good way for that to happen and still be able to lure customers to the casino.

3.  Tropicana - Las Vegas.  This is the 3rd issue House Chip.  Not sure exactly when it came out, but it's one of their early chips.  My thoughts on the Trop are well known.  It smells like old people.

4.  Savannah Lady - Savannah, GA.  This was a riverboat that started in 1993 and lasted about a year before sailing off to Ft. Lauderdale.  Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of casino river boats in Savannah can be found here.

5.  O'Sheas 23 Years - Las Vegas.  O'Sheas is closed.  1989-2012.  In it's place will be something called the Linq.  Gone are the days of beer pong in the back and really cheap blackjack in the front, almost on the street.  One bachelor party, we painstakingly took two pitchers and 22 cups with us so we could use them at tailgate, only to have them break on the flight home.  So long O'Shea's.  Sadly, Bill's is right behind you.

Savannah, GA

Just off the main strip in Savannah, GA is a riverboat that should probably be avoided at all costs.  From the best I can tell, it operated fine for a while, before being shut down by the Feds and is now re-opened "under new management."  I went there on a Sunday with @JulieAnne19 in an effort to get a chip.  Since the cruise was 8 hours long, I was hoping I could just run on, get a chip and run off.  There was a 45 minute boarding window, and we were there right at the start of that so it should have been no problem.  I was also willing to pay the $5 entry fee just to run on and run off.  In short, I was prepared to give them $15 for a $5 chip.  After going through the metal detector and explaining my plan to the dude working the ticket window, I was denied.  No reason was given.  Boo.  Whatever.  I got this chip on eBay for less than $15 anyway.  I'm not sure if this is the current chip being used onboard, or if this was the chip in use when the Feds shut it down*, but I have one.

Also, in the 25 minutes or so we were there during the boarding window, we saw maybe 5 people get on.  Even if there was a mad rush shortly before heading out to International Waters, that's what... 20 people tops?  On an 8 hour gambling cruise?  I can't imagine that being a fun endeavor and I'll bet on anything.  Literally anything.

Oh well, I have a chip from the Diamond Casino and I don't ever have to go back to that parking lot again.  Point for me.

*I realize you'd be able to better tell me if this is a current or old chip if there was a picture included.  As always, I'm efforting the pictures.  I have 14 new ones to add.  I'll get to it, pump the brakes a tad.