I have a page on my Web site for collectors who want to share their chip collecting stories. If you have a story to tell, and would like to E-Mail it to me, I will look it over. 
Most chip collectors pick up enough chips when they are at a casino, to have some to trade with other collectors. They have their chips in their collection, and they have their chips to trade. How about starting a 3rd group? Those chips can be the ones that go in your giveaway pile!
Garage sales are another way to find chips or other gaming related items. Check your local newspaper to see what is listed in your area.
From now through December 31st. I will give anyone who joins The Casino Chip and Gaming Token Collectors Club a FREE uncirculated $1 current house chip from that page of my Web site.
Another area of collecting is room keys. The casinos/hotels have some very nice looking and colorful room keys. They also change the artwork quite often. Special events are one reason for new artwork. Room keys are also fairly inexpensive to collect.
Collectors ask me all the time about getting insurance for their collections. I feel it is something you really should have just in case something happens. I have my collection insured with Collectibles Insurance Agency and have been with them for a number of years.
For those that do not already know...the Stardust will be closing it's doors around noon on November 1st. If you live here in town, or will be here before they close, you can go check it out for the last time.
I have been asked that question a lot over the years. Without a doubt, Halloween chips are number one with collectors. Those that collect Halloween chips, can't get enough of them.
Price guides are just that, GUIDES to the value of a chip. They become outdated fairly soon after being published.
"Vegas Today and Tomorrow is an up-to-date, comprehensive and easy to navigate collection of current news, maps, plans and renderings of proposed and future projects in the Las Vegas valley. The site is packed with over 600 photos on 112 pages of developments under construction as well as plans for future and proposed projects."
Would you like to use a computer software program to keep track of your chips? Terry Shaffer is a sales representative for Carlisle Development's Casino Chip Collector's Assistant Plus. Terry is also a fellow club member.
Some collectors just concentrate on crest and seal chips. These are chips that were made by the U.S. Playing Card Company in the 1940's or earlier.
We all have at one time or another. Collectors pay more than they should for items in any hobby at least once. Don't let it sour you on the hobby though.
For those of you who are thinking about collecting casino ashtrays, you will find the Nevada Casino Ashtray Project Web site very interesting.
This is a great book about Las Vegas in the 50's and 60's. Go to the link below to read more about it.
Do you have a question about a collecting area related to gaming? There is a group of club members who have volunteered to answer your questions.
For those who like to display their chips, adding a postcard from the casino is a nice addition. That way you are showing what the casino looks like, in addition to displaying the chips.
Thanks to fellow chipper, Mark Erickson, for sharing the link to these pictures.
"AirTite Direct Fit Holders are made of Acrylic with a non-yellowing agent. The end product is a hard, crystal clear, two piece, snap together cover and base. The foam rings are made of Volara and serve two purposes; they secure the chip in the holder and create an attractive border to accent the chip. Neither contain any PVC products and they provide superior long-term protection for your entire collection."
"GPI USA, previously known as Paulson Gaming, manufactures the widest range of products for live games for licensed casinos. GPI USA offers Paulson and Bud Jones chips, 3 brands of precision dice, felt and synthetic layouts, playing cards, tables and other gaming accessories to all North American casinos.
In this day and age, everyone should have a scanner. You can find a number of different scanners on the market at very cheap prices.
"You will find featured stories from current and past issues of the magazine along with useful information on the hobby of casino collectibles."
As I have mentioned in another post, there are a number of books related to the hobby of chip collecting. Fellow club member, Michael Knapp, has done reviews on many of them.
When it comes to the subject of cleaning older obsolete chips, I have found that it's just about split down the middle, between those who chose to clean and those who don't.
As you can tell by some of my previous posts here, I like to learn about the history behind a casino chip.
If you would like to see the actual scan of a chip included in a post, just left click on it with your mouse! That will give you the best view of the chip.
"The Neon Museum officially "opened" with the installation of its first refurbished sign, The Hacienda Horse and Rider, on November 15, 1996 at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and Fremont Street."
It's nice to be able to learn about the history behind the chips that we collect. There are a number of very good Web sites here on the Internet to do just that.
My friend Jim Perlowski has written a number of articles over the years. Some dating back to the late 1990's. That was when a number of us were hanging out on the old Prodigy Boards. Once the Internet really took off, another good friend, Greg Susong, started up The Chip Board. That is where we hang out now!
