The Chipco roulettes now being used at Arizona Charlie's East are certainly beautiful. Very similar roulettes were actually in use over 10 years ago in, of all places, Maryland. In the early 80's Maryland's legislature passed a law allowing certain types of charitable institutions to operate "casinos" two days per week.

The places which took advantage of this law were largely Maryland volunteer fire departments. Most of these places had very ordinary hotstamp chips. The primary exception to this was Bladensburg, a small town in the Washington, DC suburbs.

Bladensburg had six different denomination of Chipcos: $1, $2.50, $5, $25, $100, and $500. All depict a different piece of fire fighting apparatus.

Bladensburg also had beautiful Chipco roulettes...very similar to those now being used at Arizona Charlie's East. There are three differences. First of all, there were five different designs. {See scan - chip pictured in upper left corner was from an earlier unicorn set

http://ocvirtual.com/cotob/bbroulx6.jpg}

Secondly, each design was made in 12...yes 12 ... different colors.

The third difference stems from the fact that the Maryland law changed several years ago and all gaming stopped. These chips are now all obsolete.

If anyone would like a set of the six denominational chips, any set of all 12 colors of any 1 design, or all 60 different obsolete Chipco roulettes, please send me an e-mail. All 60 roulletes are priced at $175. Each table of 12 is $39. The six denominational chips are priced at $59. These prices to NOT include P&H.

Thanks...

Terry
Chips Off the Old Block