Gamblin' Ramblin$

A couple of chips

Kinda slow regarding chips. I picked up a nice $5 Castaways and I won a sweet Cal Neva Lodge $25. I have one of those already but this one looks much nicer.

I've been in contact with a gentleman who came into a bunch of cancelled Cal Neva Lodge chips. I'm working with him to get a sample of each for documentation.

Work has been terrible. Idiots, no sales, computer problems...arrrgh!! Several times this past week I wanted to just throw my keys on the roof and call it a career.

Practice tournament this Saturday...YAH!!! I'm pumped and ready!! Trevor...I don't know...he hasn't gone to class in a while and Conor needs help with his form.

We'll see!

I found one, I found one!

Well, actually they emailed me as I'm on their mailing list. I'm talking about the Tiny Treasures Web Journal.

It's one the only other 'Blogs I've found that deals with casino collectibles. It's a great 'Blog with much more interesting gaming news than I find. Of course I have to mention their main focus, and that's framing your stuff!

Yes indeed, I'm a client! I have a couple of their frames and can attest to the quality of the product. The frames I purchased were for chips, but as they state "If you collect it, we can frame it".

I say give them a shot, you won't be disappointed.

Vintage Vegas is Back ... With an 'Over The Top' Vengeance

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS and HOUSTON, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fremont Street
Experience, Las Vegas' largest walkable entertainment and gaming experience,
today announced it has secured Clear Channel Entertainment Properties to
develop and sell exclusive sponsorship and marketing programs that leverage
what is known as the "Over-The-Top, Vintage Vegas" experience. A 24/7
attraction, the Fremont Street Experience draws more than 25,000 people each
day with attendees staying for an average of four hours.

The centerpiece of the Fremont Street Experience attraction is "Viva
Vision," billed as "the biggest big screen on the planet." This 90-foot-high,
1,500-foot-long LED canopy stretches the length of more than five football
fields, hosts five nightly light and sound shows, and is capable of live video
feeds. The video presentations are accompanied by 550,000 watts of concert
quality sound, transforming the venue into an interactive state-of-the art
theater. Viva Vision, which made its debut in June, is the result of a
$17 million investment. The capabilities of the new technology have been
demonstrated through three new, spectacular light and sound shows as well as
broadcast feeds of the hit reality-TV series The Casino.
This unique environment allows marketers to close the gap between product
exposure and trial. As a sponsor's commercial is shown on the Viva Vision
canopy, consumers can simultaneously interact with the sponsor's product via
on-site sampling on the pedestrian mall below.
The seven-block open-air pedestrian mall in the heart of the downtown
gaming district, also features two permanent performance stages, free live
entertainment and special events, shopping, dining, and access to 10 legendary
hotel/casinos.

Unique, Innovative Marketing Medium
"As traditional media become more fragmented, the natural process is for
them to become more commoditized," said Jack Myers, Editor, Jack Myers Report.
"Successful media companies are opening non-traditional communications
channels that differentiate them from their competitors and offer increased
value to marketers and agencies. These new channels include multi-media
platforms, event marketing, integration of advertising and promotion, and
other innovative opportunities for marketers to touch their consumers by
capitalizing on the brand relationships media have with audiences."
"With the biggest big screen on the planet and 10 legendary Las Vegas
casinos, the Fremont Street Experience is an entertainment and gaming venue
that is unique throughout the world," said Joseph Schillaci, President & CEO
of Fremont Street Experience. "With ongoing free entertainment and concerts,
the environment at Fremont Street Experience is a relaxed, party atmosphere
that is attractive to visitors and sponsors alike. Given the number of
messages that get lost in the deluge of ads that bombard the public through
traditional mediums, the Fremont Street Experience stands out as cutting edge
means of reaching a receptive audience in an uncluttered environment. CCE
Properties immediately recognized the inherent value of the venue and
understood how to market our innovative opportunities."
Depending on a sponsor's marketing objectives, Clear Channel Entertainment
Properties will package a host of custom branding opportunities, including
nightly commercial spots on the Viva Vision canopy, sponsorships of
spectacular light-and-sound shows and on-site sales and sampling. Naming
rights to the two permanent stages, targeted special events and concert series
are also available to sponsors. In addition to overseeing sponsorships sales,
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties will also leverage its superior artist
relationships to bring high-profile music acts to Fremont Street Experience's
two performance stages.
"Vegas has never been more popular," said Bruce Eskowitz, president of
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties. "Now corporate marketers can parlay
true 'Vintage Vegas' experiences into positive, fully immersive consumer
interactions with their brands."
For further information or to learn more about marketing opportunities at
Fremont Street Experience, call (404) 233-8889 or email
livemarketing@clearchannel.com .

About Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience is a public-private partnership formed in 1995
between the City of Las Vegas and The Fremont Street Experience Company, LLC
-- owned by a group of 10 downtown casino/hotels that underwrite operating
expenses for the venue. Member properties include: Binion's Horseshoe Hotel &
Casino; Boyd Gaming (Fremont Hotel & Casino, California Hotel, Main Street
Station Casino, Brewery & Hotel); Fitzgerald's Casino Hotel; Four Queens Hotel
& Casino; Golden Gate Hotel & Casino; Golden Nugget Las Vegas; Las Vegas Club
Hotel Casino and Lady Luck Hotel Casino (associate member).

About Clear Channel Entertainment-Properties
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties (CCEP), a division of Clear Channel
Entertainment, markets the organization's vast network of assets -- venues;
music, motor sports, action sports, and theatrical properties; exclusive
special events, exhibitions, and Emmy(R) award-winning television production
services -- to corporations seeking unique brand positioning. In addition,
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties specializes in creating custom, high-
impact marketing programs and special events that provide flexibility for
client budget and timing parameters. Services include advertising, strategic
marketing and content development, national and local sales programs, product
and service launches, and television/broadcast programming. The resources and
reach of CCE Properties have already made them among the most sought-after
partners for business and consumer marketing in live entertainment today.
Parent company Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of
live entertainment events, promotes and/or produces over 29,000 events,
attended by more than 65 million people. The company currently owns, operates
and/or exclusively books approximately 130 live entertainment venues,
including more than 100 in North America and 30 in Europe. More information
may be found by visiting http://www.cc.com and http://www.clearchannel.com .

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual results performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-
looking statements. Visit our website at http://www.clearchannel.com .

Gaming Commission to hear Hard Rock ad dispute

By ROD SMITH
GAMING WIRE

The Hard Rock Hotel's dispute with gaming regulators over several of its ads is turning into a full-bore confrontation over the First Amendment that will begin Friday when the Nevada Gaming Commission hears motions on the case.

And, ironically, Gaming Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard said late Monday the public petitions he had previously invited will not be heard at Friday's hearing.

Bernhard decided to gag third parties even though regulators had previously rejected a settlement in the 9-month-old case because they said the issues involved were too important to decide without a full public discussion.

The battle that's shaping up stems from a series of suggestive billboard and print ads that the Nevada Gaming Control Board wants banned because they suggest illegal activities and allegedly damaged the industry's reputation.

Since the Control Board complaint was first filed, the Hard Rock Hotel has changed its tune from trying to amicably settle the complaints brought by the state over its suggestive advertising campaign to insisting its First Amendment rights are being violated.

It has been joined in its battle with the state by the Nevada Resort Association, representing the gaming industry, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada.

The state attorney general's office is equally adamant, arguing that Nevada gaming regulators have the responsibility of maintaining public confidence in the industry.

In fact, Attorney General Brian Sandoval's office, in a filing opposing a motion by the Hard Rock seeking dismissal of the case, argues that state regulations take precedence over any constitutional arguments raised by the Hard Rock and its allies.

Further, the attorney general's office is arguing that constitutionally protected speech is limited to the advancement of truth, science, morality, government and the arts in general.

Finally, the attorney general's office early this month reversed its position on public input, arguing "friend of the court" pleadings would be premature at this time because they would usurp its ability to shape the issues.

The new position that public pleadings will not be heard seems to fly in the face of apparent invitations for "friend of the court" pleadings extended at the July Gaming Commission meeting by Bernhard and Senior Deputy Attorney General Toni Cowan, who represents state gaming regulators.

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, a partner in Lionel, Sawyer and Collins who represents the Nevada Resort Association, said "at best" he was surprised by the attorney general's apparent reversal on public input.

Nevertheless, Bernhard said late Monday he will not allow public input, including testimony from the NRA or the ACLU, at Friday's hearing.

Instead, he will independently decide on whether to accept the "friend of the court" motions. If he does accept them, he said, they will only be considered at trial in November if the commission rejects the Hard Rock's motion to dismiss the case. That motion will be considered Friday.

The ACLU Monday argued in its own filing that once the smoke clears, the core issue in this case is the unconstitutionality of Nevada's gaming regulations.

The ACLU of Nevada's general counsel, Allen Lichtenstein, said the state regulations unconstitutionally call for sanctions against gaming license-holders if they exercise their free speech rights in a way that state officials believe reflects unfavorably on the industry.

The Hard Rock and the state attorney general's office early this year tried to negotiate a $300,000 settlement to resolve the complaint.

Jeffrey Silver, a partner in Gordon and Silver who represents the Hard Rock, said originally his client only wanted to "buy its peace," and agreed to the proposed settlement to make the original complaint disappear, not because it was admitting guilt.

He said the company had wanted an agreement that would allow the resort to avoid the cost of a trial in terms of money, manpower and distractions, even though it believed its ads clearly were intended to be satirical.

For example, one of the ads showed a naked male and female lying atop a gaming table with dice by their sides and a card in her mouth. The ad's tagline said: "There's always an urge to cheat."

Cowan argued the ad encouraged casino players to cheat at table games, while Bernhard said it was absurd to allege that the company was encouraging customers to go into the casino to cheat. He noted the word "cheat" could just as easily be construed to have a sexual meaning.

However, the Gaming Commission rejected the settlement in July, saying the state's arguments were preposterous and that the ads raised larger policy issues affecting the industry and the community that had to be addressed.

At the commission's July hearing, the attorney general's office asked for more time to negotiate an agreement, but Bernhard instead scheduled a hearing on pretrial motions for Friday and a trial for Nov. 18, even though he still urged Hard Rock and the state attorney general's office to continue trying to negotiate a settlement.

Those talks broke down, however, and Hard Rock changed its tack with a motion filed in August that the case against it should be dismissed, arguing that no government agency can act as a censor based on its perception about what is in good taste.

"Absent any inherently misleading statements or any statements advertising illegal products or services, any attempts to regulate advertising content are presumptively unconstitutional," the Hard Rock argued in its motions.

At the end of August, the Nevada Resort Association spoke up for the first time with a "friend of the court" brief filed on behalf of the gaming community that also argued that state regulations and efforts to enforce them violate the free speech protections of the U.S. Constitution.

NRA President Bill Bible said the trade association intervened in the case because issues with industrywide significance are involved, and cannot prudently be ignored.

"The question is whether (the Gaming Control Board) may police the content of such advertising in a manner inconsistent with First Amendment guarantees," Bryan argued in his brief.

Everybody was Kung-Fu...What??

I enjoy a good(?) martial arts movie as much as the next guy. A few stand out from the others... Crouching Tiger-Hidden Dragon, Big Trouble in Little China, and of course...Enter the Dragon. Victor was talking to me today about a movie he saw recently called The Vampire Effect. It sounded interesting enough so I checked eBay. Every one of the available DVDs was from Asia and while the purchase price was respectable, the shipping was up there. Granted the things were/are coming from the Orient. I wonder if they are original?? Anyway, it looks pretty cool so I'll have to rent it first.

The Hero looks good too...and Jet Li kicks butt!!

A Standing 8 Count

New Release

MGM Grand Oscar de la Hoya vs. Hopkins
$5, $25, and $100
09-18-04
Limited to 2500-$5, 1000-$25, and 500-$100

Many casinos will release a chip for an event that is exclusive to them, here are some examples. Boxing chips are big business and there are lots of them out there. If you were so inclined, that would be a good type set to collect.

Check out this set, especially the similarity between the $5 and $100. These may get pulled quickly.

A chip celebrating poker! How 'bout that?

New Release

Palms $5 Rounders 2004
09-11-04
Limited to 2500

I'm not sure of the reason behind this chip. I think it's about a reunion of sorts for the parties involved with the movie. Don't quote me there! Regardless, it is a nice looking chip, how can you go wrong with a Royal Flush on the face of the chip?

Grrrrr

Man...I hate it when I get sniped on a chip I wanted. Ah well, this one was a nifty $100 Cal Neva Lodge...black with brown and beige inserts. I've been beaten out for that one before...someday!

Ramping up

Got in a couple of classes today with the boys. Trevor and I also earned our stripes for our new belts...very cool. We found out what our jobs will be for the Tournament...we get to be scorekeepers for some of the Black Belt Competition! How kick-butt is that?

My Red Belt stuff gets serious now as I have a double jumping kick, another jumping back kick, and a spinning tornado kick to master...that's going to be tough with gravity as my enemy, but that won't stop me from trying my best!

Well Alrighty Then!

Remember that I LOVE THE OLYMPICS? I watched as much TV coverage as possible and enjoyed all of the competitions, even the equestrian though others thought it was boring.

I have always enjoyed volleyball and I find beach volleyball fascinating. How tough it must be to have only 2 players on a team.The communication and trust between players must be spot on for the team to be successful.

And now we have a casino chip to celebrate the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. And what a chip it is! Quite the camera shot wouldn't you say? In reality it is a very important shot in regards to the game as that is how the team members call signals to each other.

So if sexy casino chips are your thing, you better add this one to the Four Queens Halloween series, Hawaiin Tropic Set...etc.

Seeing Red

Conor and I were successful in our atempts to earn our new Red Belts. Let's see, Trevor just progressed from Yellow to Orange. Conor and I went from brown to Red...Autumn colors.

I was again picked to lead the dwindling Brown Belt class. Our numbers are down to 2 adults and 3 kids...wow! Where did everyone go?

There is a huge Purple Belt class tho'.

Now it's time to work on that Tae-Guek Chil Jang form for tournament...it's just over a month away.

Way to go Trevor!!!

A big night for Trevor. Not only did he earn his Orange Belt, but he was selected to lead the class in its test. Since he has never done this before, he was a bit nervous but he did a great job. Then I lined up across from him for the rest of the test which included his self defense and breaking. The cool part was that Conor was my Dream Team assistant so he was handing me the board and belt...how cool is that? A family affair in martial arts...like we say..." The family that kicks together, sticks together!"

Early night tonight...Conor and I test in the morning...early morning!

One treat we got to witness was a part of the 2nd Dan Black Belt test for several students. The test consisted of taking a kendo sword and striking at a lit candle. The objective is to put out the candle without touching it with an overhead strike. It's not as easy as it sounds.

Ya can't fuss if you don't vote!

Vote or Not

Hey, who couldn't use $100,000? I sure could and here is your chance to help me and help yourself! If you're a registered voter, just follow the Vote or Not link and fill in the info. You'll even get a link to post on your own website or 'Blog. In the meantime, we both get entries to win.

It doesn't matter who you vote for as long as you are registered!

As I have said before, I'm not very political and my 'Blog typically does not venture into that arena, but the chance for $100,000 speaks loudly!

Back to work

Due to scheduling, I haven't made to as may classes as I wanted to so tonight we (Trevor and I) decided we would go to 2 classes. Man, I'm beat but it was worth it. We conducted a practice belt test. Conor and I go for our Red Belts and Trevor goes for his Orange Belt.

Conor came to the 2nd class, boy did he miss the fun! A 100 simultaneous kick drill where 2 of us face each other and throw kicks at the same time. That was brutal. Then Trevor picked me to spar with him...big mistake! C'mon...I get to beat on my kid and not get trouble??? I took it easy on him and got him to throw some kicks with his left leg.

It was a great night of sparring but t wasn't over after 2 classes...nope! My demo team arrived to work on the belt demo...hmmmm...I'm part of that team! I haven't worked on my Red Belt form...or kicking...or hand techniques...uh-oh! And I've got until Saturday morning to learn everything. I did manage to get down most of the form and the other parts enough to practice with music. Trevor's in the same situation and his team was there too. I love their demo...they are using James Brown's "Living in America"...it's awesome!

Enough for now...time for sleep, and it should be a good sleep!

A Yearly Tradition

New Release

Rio $5 Hot August Nights 2004
09-01-04
Limited to 500

This has been going on for many years. A celebration of cars, music, and summer nights. The festival is centered around the Reno/Tahoe area but casinos from all over Nevada release chips in honor of the event. Many of the chips will depict cars but that's not always the case. Take this chip for example, a simple summer scene looking out from the Rio.

There are many collectors that have complete sets of HAN chips, now's the time to get started!

For Dmitri and my Crew

Here is a pic of a classic Star Trek villain. The reason it's here is that Dmitri has a pic of himself on his PCS phone. It looks remarkably similar to this pic.

Hopefully they will check my blog so they can compare the shots.

It's raining chips!

New Release

Boulder Station 10th Anniversary 2004 $5 chip
09-01-04
Limited to 5000

Happy Birthday Boulder Station! What a nice chip, lots of color and I really like the common train theme on the obverse of all the Station Casinos. 10 years...considering how quickly the casinos come and go, that's a pretty long time to be around. Think about it, there are only a few of the "classic" casino-resorts left.

New Release

Paris $5 We Will Rock You 2004
09-01-04

Wow, this looks a great show. I'm not a huge Queen fan, but a lot of their music is pretty good. This chip is incredible, what an awesome logo. Check out the little "CI" in the left bottom leg of the "R". That's for Chipco International. This going to be a chip that I have to get, perhaps you should get one too!

Other New Releases of note, and there's a bunch!

Jerry's Nugget 40th Anniversary $1, $5, and $25
09-01-04
$1 and $5 Limited to 1040, $25 to 540

Four Queens Poker Classic $1 and $5
09-01-04

Golden Gate $5 San Francisco's Coit Tower 2004
09-01-04

Imperial Palace $5 Dealertainer 2004
09-01-04

Mandalay Bay $25 Josh Groban 2004
09-01-04

Sahara $5 Saturday Night Fever
08-21-04

'NUFF SAID!!!

Louisville - 28

Kentucky - 0

Here's the story if you're interested!

*ahem*

WOOHOO!!!!

And *poof*...it's gone!

Here is the Rocky's $25 I mentioned earlier. Nice looking chip! Rocky's closed suddenly in 2004 after being open only 2 years. Since there was no notice of impending closing, collectors and dealers did not have the chance to get in there to gather chips, making the $5 scarce and the $25 really tough to find.

The first...

...swap meet/sale of the Derby City Casino Collectibles Club was held today at the Executive West. The Monday Lunch crew was there in force. I picked up a few things including a very cool invitation to the Golden Nugget's 50th Anniversary. It's in book form. The fact that I have a complete set of the Anniversary chips just makes things that much better. Perhaps a picture with all the pieces together? Maybe!

A chipping story

This is unedited text from Brad Compton relaying how he ended upwith 100 Cal Neva chips:

My father was into antiques and we frequented many flea markets and auctions, I started collecting dice (something small to buy for someone with little money), and was interested in gambling, and picked up some antique chips and from there, I was very much collecting and trading. Mainly clay, paper, wood, that sort. I was about 16, and my father found 2 boxes, one of the cal neva's, and the other prima donna 10cents. I think we paid $10 total. (that was 87 or so)
I was trading pretty exclusively with (Jim Reynold's), mainly because I didn't have a very large collection, and he had many that I didn't.
Well anyway, at my father's advice, although now I see may have been a little rushed, I sent him 50 of each, in turn he sent me my first ivories, bone, mother of pearl, some nice ones that I didn't have, so that was nice. Later I sold some to a casino chip seller, you might know his name, I think it was Roger C or Tilton something, he passed away in the 90's I believe. I traded quite a few as well.
I went and looked through my archives, I still have a few.

There are countless stories just like this one, I hope to have one of my own to be able to tell.

Paul-Son makes a change

from the Las Vegas Sun

Chip maker changes name

Paul-Son Gaming Corp. announced it has completed a name change to Gaming Partners International Corp. and that it has acquired a new Nasdaq trading symbol, GPIC.

The name change was approved by shareholders at the company's annual meeting May 26.

Company President and Chief Executive Gerard Charlier said the name change follows nearly two years of "intensive efforts to reorganize and improve operations" since Paul-Son merged with privately held French chip maker Etablissements Bourgogne et Grasset in 2002.

The company has aimed to eliminate duplicate functions, build an executive team and expand the company's product line

Get my Point?

Bastard Sword, although used by many europeans in
medievil times this sword was more of a
collecters sword and was less used for fighting
and more used for looking at, and would only be
used by great warriors or lords/kings. (Please
Vote)


What sword would you use (info and pics on swords as well)
brought to you by Quizilla

Found via Mary Beth

I'm so fired up...

...listening to our President, and becoming more and more optimistic about our future, that I'm placing this little jewel on my "want list". Wouldn't this Las Vegas chip look sweet in my website with my other Golden Nugget chips?

Thanks to CasinoRarities for the pic of this uber-rare Golden Nugget $25 Black Inlay. It's rumored that this chip was sold for $6000 at the Convention this year. I want it, I just can't afford it! The $5 typically goes for around $1000 and that it still way out of my budget range...but I will find a way. I'm still hoping to find one at an estate sale somewhere!

Stuff that Sparkles Part II

I haven't received enough chips to create a large scan so I used an older scan to play with my new image editor.

Isn't this a cool token? Looks like an enamel coating on the front. I'm not nto tokens, except for Golden Nugget, but this one is so nice looking I could not resist, especially considering how much I paid for it. These were going for $50 at the convention in 2003, I can see why. Palms chips and tokens are in high demand because of their quality and themes.

The $10 token is even more colorful as you can see. Yep I got that one for a great price too. No way would something this nice ever see a slot machine. As nice as the $10 token is, the Silver Strikes take it up a notch. You can buy the tokens, but you must win the Silver Strikes. They are the payouts for a winning spin and they can be cashed in at the cage. There is usually a line for the Strike machines or you make a reservation for a particular time slot. Isn't that crazy?