August 2025

 Added one new chip back in June when I visited the Bally's Casino in Chicago. Multi-level casino that had extremely high table limits for a Tuesday night and was quite busy for a Tuesday night. Didn't play, as only $50 tables were open. Fine looking chip, fine looking casino - but if you are in downtown Chicago, you can probably find better things to do than sit at cramped $50 tables. Like go to Ed Debevic's.

I will say that this looks a lot like the Jumer's Casino chip from Rock Island, Illinois (here) - maybe hexagons are the official state shape of the Prairie State.

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.

Jumer's and Four Winds

Work trips to Iowa are proving to be profitable for the chip collecting business. The first trip netted the Riverside Casino chip and the second nets Jumer's and Four Winds.

Jumer's is located in Rock Island, Illinois practically on the Illinois/Iowa border. It opened just about 18 months ago, so it's still brand spankin' new. In true Steve Wynn fashion, the casino is named after the owner. Well, I guess in near-Steve Wynn fashion. It's not called Wynn's. Other than that, it's a pretty standard casino. Sort of laid out like the Hard Casino in Vegas in that the floor is a big circle with all the gambling done in the middle and all the restaurants, cage and shops on the outside. No gambling, just made a quick pit stop to grab a chip.

The Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, MI (not to be confused with Old Buffalo) was a little tougher to get to. While Jumer's was located right off I-80 and can be seen from the highway, Four Winds requires a lengthy drive on what has to be the state's windingest driveway. It too is fairly new and is kind of a cross between Soaring Eagle and Firekeepers. Not as big as the Eagle and not as bright and flashy as Firekeeper's. And definitely not more convenient for me, unless I'm on my way to Iowa.