2024 - May

 For the first time since 2015, a second post in a calendar year! On a roll now. The two newest chips are numbers 528 and 529. 528 came in the mail, 529 came on a recent visit to Las Vegas. I'm not sure what that visit number is... gotta be in the 20s. Here we go:

Four Queens - Mayor Oscar Goodman. This is my second Goodman chip, but it's the first one he appeared on. The other being a Plaza chip. This chip is limited to 2,500... so only another 2,499 are out there in the world. This marked the first time the mayor of Las Vegas was pictured on a casino chip, although to be honest, I haven't seen any others. His wife is the current mayor.

Park MGM. I would have bet you a bunch of money I already had this chip, but in preparation for my most recent visit, I found it was missing from my collection. Which is odd because the last time I was there, we ate at Eataly inside Park MGM twice. I got this one in the course of playing, and what a session it was. $15 table, paying blackjack 6 to 5. I joined three players at this table, all of them with ties to Dominos (there was some super Dominos convention going on at the time). I slid my three $5 chips to the circle and we were off.

Loss

Loss

Loss on a double

Loss

Loss

Down a quick $90 with one Park MGM chip in my pocket for my collection and one chip left, I bailed. A beatdown of epic proportions. Also, the sandwich I had for lunch at Eataly was massively over-priced. Probably done with Park MGM now.

On this visit I did make it down to see the new Fountainebleau. Overrated. And I got most of my $90 back playing at a $10 table at the Flamingo. So at least the old places know how to treat a guy.

2024 - January

 I'm 99% sure this won't be my only post in 2024. So there's that. I recently added seven new chips to my collection. We have:

1. Circa. I would have swore this was in the City Center area on the grounds of the former Monte Carlo Casino (RIP Carlo), but no, it's downtown. Which makes sense, the chip has a very downtown design to it. In a good way.

2. Horseshoe Las Vegas. Was under construction when I was last there, but this is mostly a name change of the old Bally's Casino. Really good location. 

3. Sahara. Just a new, updated chip for one of the originals. Way down at the far end, but now has Fountainebleau nearby and Resorts World across the street. So not as lonesome as it once was. It's also been cleaned up nicely inside. We walked through on the most recent visit and I was impressed. The casino floor layout was almost exactly how I remembered it, too. 

4. Strat. Also a new house chip for a casino down at the far end. I really like the look of this new Strat chip and, like the Sahara, seemed much cleaner/nicer on the inside than I remember. 

5. Circus Circus. Sticking with new house chips from the far end, a new house chip from Circus Circus. I don't think anyone calls it the CC. I did not go inside so I have no idea if the inside's been cleaned up but judging from the outside of the place, I doubt it. Would it kill them to power spray the exterior once every 30 years?

6. Fountainbleau. I think they started on this the last time the CC was power-washed, but it is now finally open. It was nearly complete last year when we were there and it's open now. I'm eager to check out the inside on our next visit. I really like how this chip looks except for the donut hole in the middle. Need to put a big "F" or something in there.

7. Last, it's the Mandalay Bay Raiders chip. From the complete opposite end of the Strip as the last couple. Not sure I could name any current Raiders. David Carr? He still a thing?

Long Time, No Blog

Looks like it's been almost 18 months since my last update.  Fear not, I have not neglected my chip collecting duties over that time.  In fact, I've collected almost one chip per two months gone without blogging.  I am now 8 chips closer to hitting the 500 mark, the new chips bring me just 16 shy.  Now it has been a while since I've gotten some of these chips, so a lot of the pertinent details I've forgotten, but I'll try my best.

1.  The Adventure of the Seas Casino on board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.  I hope whomever was on this trip had a lovely time and visited some lovely places.

2.  Casesars Windsor.  The 4th "Detroit" casino, it's easily the most recognized structure of the Windsor skyline.

3.  Rivers Casino 5th Anniversary.  Just outside of Chicago.
4.  Rivers Casino.

5.  Hollywood Casino Kansas City.  This one is near the NASCAR track in KC.  Lots going on in KC these days.

6.  Plaza.  Downtown Las Vegas.  Stayed there in January when I visited.  You've been to Vegas too many times when you opt to stay downtown because you're bored with the Strip and "never stayed downtown before."
7.  Plaza Oscar Goodman.  Former Mayor of Las Vegas.  Read a great book about him - Of Rats and Men by John L. Smith.  No, not that John L. Smith.

8.  Casino del Mar - Puerto Rico.  I'm hoping this was from the same person as chip #1.  That would be a lovely trip.

April Update - Vegas

It's been a while since I have been to Las Vegas myself, but the blog is always very appreciative of others who go and bring back a chip or four.  Aunt Winnie recently completed a stay out there and brought me back these four wonderful chips:

1.  Max Casino
2.  Max Casino Grand Opening

The Max Casino is the new name of the Westin Causarina, a slightly off-strip casino that was once named the Maxim Hotel and Casino.  Tupac was shot in front of the Maxim in 1996.

3.  Downtown Grand

The Downtown Grand opened in October of 2013 and is the former Lady Luck Casino.

4.  Planet Hollywood - Britney Spears

Brit Brit is performing a show at the PH called "Piece of Me."  She's got about 1.5 years left on her two year deal, so there's still time to get your tickets.

May Update

Four new chips added to the collection that I bought online.

1.  Aladdin - Lionel Richie.  Hello?  Is this the chip you're looking for?  From New Year's Eve 2004, this chip was limited to 5,000.  The opposite side is a "Coming in 2006 Planet Hollywood" design.  I'm kind of surprised it took me this long to get the Lionel chip though.  Always a strong jukebox play at the Pub.

2.  Aladdin - Grand Opening.  This is the 2000 second opening of the Aladdin.  It originally opened in 1966 and was imploded in 1998.  It reopened two years later and then in 2007 finally changed to Planet Hollywood.

3.  MGM Grand - Ty Murray.  This is another of the red/white edge chips that looks just like their Grand Opening, Julio Cesar Chavez and Betty Boop chips.  He's a 9-time World Champion rodeo cowboy and he's married to Jewel.  Not sure which accomplishment the chip is commemortating.

4.  Pioneer Club - Vegas Vic/Hoover Dam.  The Pioneer Club has a series of chips with the same Vegas Vic back and a historic Vegas fact/photo on the other side.  This one is for the completion of the Hoover Dam in 1936.  But I really like the Vic side of it, so I chose to go with that one.  The Pioneer Club was a downtown casino that closed 20 years ago.

Birthday 3 - Las Vegas

These were all Las Vegas chips my brother (@ATRoss14) and his wife got me for my birthday.  In no particular order:

1.  Caesars Palace Davis Cup, USA vs. Sweden September 22-24, 1995.  I think we all remember where we were and what happened in that titanic tennis tournament.  I know I'll never forget it.

2.  Tropicana 9th Annual CC&GTCC International Convention May 31- June 2 2001.  That stands for Casino Chips & Gaming Tokens Collectors Club.

3.  Castaways New Years Eve 2001.  This Castaways was open from 2000-2004, and this chip clearly states that it is 1 of 1000.  Not 2, not 5, not 17.  1.  The other Castaways was once purchased by Howard Hughes and then Steve Wynn and was where the Mirage and TI sit now.

4.  Tuscany - The casino opened in 2003.  Haven't been yet.

5.  Fremont Celebrating 40 Years 1956-1996.  The Fremont opened in 1956 and at the time was the tallest building in Las Vegas.  It's downtown and a part of the Fremont Street Experience.

6.  Showboat - Was a hotel/casino/bowling center.  But is no more.  It eventually became the Castaways.  The one that closed in 2004.

7.  Four Queens Fremont Street Experience - The Four Queens is one of the 4 main downtown casinos (along with the Fremont, the Golden Nugget and Binion's).  They all sit on the same corner and anchor the Fremont Street Experience, which is an epilepsy-inducing laser light show.  Helps the city disguise who is having a seizure from the lights and who is having one from a heroin overdose.

8.  Arizona Charlie's - love the look of this chip.  I assume that's Charlie himself.  A mostly locals casino, there is also one in Boulder.

9.  Palms Preserving Gaming History.  Another of the annual CC&GTCC chips.

10.  South Coast - Another of the casino/hotel/bowling centers.

11.  Orleans 4th Annual Poker Tournament July 8-23, 2000.  Pretty self-explanatory.

12.  Hard Rock Black Crowes.  Pretty cool design for this concert chip.

13.  Flamingo - a house chip that has flamingos on it.  They had another flamingo inspired chip and I like both of them.

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.

Binion's Horsheshoe

Binion's Horseshoe was a downtown casino/hotel that was famous for hosting the World Series of Poker.  It's since been sold to Harrah's and then on to another management group and been re-branded Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel.  It has apparently been remodeled, but I haven't been down to Fremont Street in years to check it out.  On my next trip though, I want to get down there and see it.

While it was still Binion's Horseshoe, they put out 4 special chips.  I had one of them - http://fivedollarchips.blogspot.com/2008/02/downtown.html - second from the bottom of this post, but never got the other 3.  Until today that is...

1.  Benny on Horseback statue - The statue used to be downtown and outside but has since been relocated to the entrance of the Equestrian Center at the South Point casino.  No one seems to know why.

2.  Stagecoach.

3.  Million Dollar Display - At the old Binion's, there used to be a million dollars in cash on display in the middle of the casino.  They've since changed the display a little, there's still a million dollars, but it's in a pyramid shape instead of under a horseshoe, and there are certain times you can have your picture taken with it.  And it's probably nice to know that if they are ever in need of quick cash, they have an extra million bucks laying around.

8-10-12 Update

August 10, 2012 is a date I will forever remember.  Not because @geoffkimmerly and Tasha got married.  But because I picked up two new chips for the blog!

1.  Stratosphere Grand Opening.  Dated April 1996.  The Strat has been open for over 16 years, has anyone ever stayed there?  Does anyone even know anyone who has stayed there?  In countless trips to Vegas, I can remember having lunch with my brother at the top of that thing and maybe playing 10 minutes of blackjack.  And I remember their blackjack tables have weird rules.  Oh, the Strat.

2.  Golden Nugget - 50th Anniversary 1946-1996.  Just realized both chips are 1996 chips.  The Golden Nugget.  Featured in a truly terrible reality TV show called "The Casino" which centered on Tim and Tom trying not to run the operation into the ground.  It's still open, so I guess they were quasi-successful.  Tom even wrote a book on the experience, which of course I own, and of course was awful.  It's called "Double or Nothing."  I guess all the good book names were taken.

Pictures coming soon.

And congrats to Geoff and Tasha!

Del Webb's The Mint

The Mint. Opened in 1957 and later became part of Binion's Horseshoe. Hunter S. Thompson stayed there during his Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas book. Also, I believe James McManus stayed there (after it sold to Binion's) and wrote about it in Positively Fifth Street. The have (or had) a rooftop pool - which would be cool to swim in if it wasn't 250 feet closer to the sun. I like to get sun burnt but come on people! You might as well sit inside a microwave!

Gold Spike

The Gold Spike casino opened in 1976, closed shortly thereafter and then reopened in 1983. It's apparently been totally redone on the inside and is quite nice for a downtown joint. It's been years since I've been downtown, so I'll have to take the interwebs word for it. I just like the logo on the chip.