George, and others,

From my knowledge (minor), the Belle has been doing Gator Days (in celebration of the summer months on the river) for several years. Last year ('99) introduced those three characters (a monkey, a gator and a bobcat/puma/mountain lion?). They issued one chip (quantity: 1999) with a likeness of all three (see scan). The year before they issued three different chips (one for each month in June, July and August (1,500 for each)) that showed an animated Gator, in the same vain as the Flamingo Hilton promoted it's Cool Bird.

This years, just like last, they have a wild animal display (two separate plexi-glass chambers) containing live gators and snakes (Boa's, big ones too).

Regards, Jim Follis