February Update

Work trips have netted me 5 new chips for my collection.  First, I traveled to some small town in Kentucky just south of Evansville, IN.  Instead of stopping at the Tropicana Evansville that we passed, I figured I would just buy the chip online.  I'm lucky I didn't stop because from looking online, I don't think they have live table games.  But they did, back when the riverboat casino was named "Casino Aztar."  So this is a chip from there.  Finding all of that information out led me to one of the best yelp reviews I've ever read:

"If you ever wondered where all the people that still rock mullets and acid washed jeans hang out, wonder no more. It's the Casino Aztar in Evansville, Indiana. Well, it's actually a tie between the 80's trailer park look and the girls in stilettos and mini skirts pretending they're in a Vegas casino. It all makes for pretty stellar people watching."

Wonder no more, residents of Evansville!

Julie's work trip took her to a much larger casino - the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.  While there, she was able to round up 4 chips for me.  They are:

1.  House Chip - the one with the eagle on it.  

2.  Grand Opening - From 2002, this one has a photo of the complex on one side and just a large $5 on the other.

3.  Millenium.  The wolf chip.  I think the design came straight from this t-shirt.  It's my favorite of the four.

4.  Grand Opening Casino of the Sky.  I guess they have 3 different themes for the casino, or three different areas.  Casino of the Sky, Casino of the Earth and Casino of the Wind.  I have no idea what the differences would be.  I'd ask Julie but she spent her time at the Margaritaville restaurant, not at the tables.  I hope she at least went with "Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalya."

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.