In a Saturday drive up to northern Wisconsin, I stopped yesterday at the Lake of the Torches Casino in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin. (Only 250 miles from my house. Pretty far to go, but I had a "Happy Birthday" card that was good for a free buffet and t-shirt!)

They opened their current casino only two or three years ago, and at that time replaced their H&C chips with new Chipco versions. (See Greg's WI Chipguide for scans.) When I was there just last November, in order to pick out extra $1 and 50c chips for trading, I had to go through a bunch of chips to find ones that were not showing too much wear.

Yesterday, I partly went there to get more stock for trading, and the blackjack tables were using $1 tokens. I asked the pit boss about the $1 chip, and he said they had been pulled out. I asked if they had any at the cage, and he said "If they do, they're drilled." So this chip has been officially cancelled.

These Chipco's have been very suseptable to wear. They still have the 50c and $5 & up chips on the tables, but again I had to pick through a handful of fifty centers to find some good ones, and the $5 chips, which get more handling, vary from good to barely readable. This is unusual, as the Chipco chips used at Menominee Casino for many years in Keshena, WI have always held up very well, and it is rare to see a worn out chip there. Anyone explain why some hold up better than others?

The Chipco's at Northern Lights in Carter, WI also show wear, but usually on the face of the chip near the edge. When I restocked at this casino yesterday, I noted at least 3/4 of the 50c chips were faded from a bright pink to a pale color. I hadda toke the dealer a couple of times and then she picked out for me the ones in her tray that were in good shape.