I have told it before, but I will repeat it for Brian. I started collecting jetons in 1972, when I was 9 years young, I had a very classy aunt, who played in the 'in' places from just after WW2 until she passed away in 1980. She played in Nice, Monte Carlo, Cannes, you name it she has played there. After she came back from a trip she had some jetons left and gave them to me. I then asked to bring me more from all the places she played. She loved Bacarrat and Roulette. I got the 'roulette' love from her, that is why I like to play 25 of 50cent roulette for hours... like in Tunica or Downtown Vegas (answers your question part 1) in the 'old' places in Europe like Monte Carlo or Nice the minimun is to high for me to enjoy the game, then I enjoy watching. For me to play roulette in Europe and have fun is possible in Spain where the have 200Pts tables which is a bit more than a $1...
But no problem, tomorow I leave for Vegas and can go and play 25cent roulette at Vacation Village in the afternoon and 50cent in the evening in Fremont Street
That is how I got started and in 1999, via the internet, found this GREAT club CCGTCC and made many friend who are crazy as me to collect chips. For years I have lived thinking I was the only one to collect those small round pieces and then to find this bunch of people....
Take care and kind regards,
Belgium Bob R-4479