I hope everyone had a nice Easter or Passover.

The Opera House "71 Years of Legal Gaming" set was planned since late November. It took many hours of extensive research from several sources. It was originally supposed to be released in 2001 but there was just not enough time to do what needed to be done.

The $1 chip which is the subject of this post was an afterthought. The set originally consisted of three denominations: $5, $25, and $100.

There were two main purposes in addng the $1 chip to the set. They are related to the release of the Opera House NCV Relief Effort set in early January.

My original thought was that these 150 sets would be sold very quickly. They are oversized, a very small issue, packaged in a nice presentation box and all profits will go to charity. I guess I was very naive. As of this date, roughly half of the sets remain unsold. This remains a terrible dissappointment and a mystery to me. I recognize that many of us have given to 911 related causes. However, any charity of one's choosing is fine and welcome.

The first purpose of adding the $1 chip to the Historical Locations set was to say thanks to all those who have purchased the NCV Sets. If you have purchased one of the Opera House NCV sets, the $1 chip is priced at $3. You can get it from me at the National Convention or, add $1 for P&H and I'll mail it to you. PayPal is fine also. Just send me an e-mail and tell me your the number of your NCV set.

The second purpose in adding the $1 chip was to encourage those of you who have not yet bought the NCV set to PLEASE reconsder and join those of us who have. All the details concerning this charitable project are contained in the link below.

If you'd like to add the Opera House NCV Relef Effort set to your collection, just send me an e-mail and let me know. You'll need to send a minimum donation of $100, add $3.50 for P&H and insurance, and add $3 for your $1 "71 Years of Legal Gaming" LE.

If you have no interest in the NCV set, the $1 LE will be regularly priced at $25. I will offer it during the month of April only at $19.

Please consider this "higher math." If you pruchase the $1 chip without the NCV set, your cost will be $19 in April, $25 thereafter. The cost of the $1 LE with the NCV set (without P&H) is $103. That is like getting the NCV set for $84 ($103-$19). If 90% of the cost of the NCV set (after expenses) goes to the charity of your choice, and if you are in a 27% marginal bracket, and if the donation is tax-deductible, (alot of "ifs") that will save you about $24 in 2002 federal income taxes. That will further net your cost to $60 ($84-$24).

With every NCV set you receive at no added cost a Bellagio Ocean's 11 $100 chip. It recently sold on eBay for $20.50.

If his higher math makes sense, it makes the NCV set not only a great project, but a fine value also.

I hope this answers any qustions. If you still have any, please send me a e-mail and l'll be happy to answer you via an e-mail in return.

Thanks...

Terry Lazarus