I was just reflecting a little more on this and I think you put it well. To be honest, the first trip I took to LV I didn't bring any chips home. I think I might have picked up a couple decks of cards, some dice, a silver strike, some soap, shampoo, matches and a beer stein.

The second year out I picked up a few $1 tokens, a few more Silver Strikes, some cards and dice, matches, glassware soap and shampoo etc. I did pick up my first couple chips but they were an after thought after I first started playing some table games, (Roulette) and had a win the last day in town. I tried to grab a few roulettes but was stopped and told that I couldn't take those. I cashed out and there were 2 odd $1 chips so I took them.

This would have been 1997 and it was somewhere in there that I noticed eBay and The Chipboard. I started seeing all the LE chips and as I started in future trips to play more blackjack I began to be taken by the designs and variety of chips from casino to casino. I began to pick up chips everyplace I played and a new collection began. I started buying the LEs that I liked on eBay and now buy mostly from NIS folks more than on eBay. I also get most of my chips by picking them up in play. I have started to emphasize a little more on the antique cheracter of the old game played chips. Many of the LEs have become senseless to me or the designs just don't move me. Either that or they get too pricey. I still find a few good things on eBay though and will pick up an LE or two when I see something nice or special.

Add to that all the other stuff that I mentioned plus a piece of slot glass, a couple felts, A Rio Rita Barbie type doll, post cards, Slot Cups, key chains, freebies and givaway items that I would occasionally come accross or get with a coupon, Luggage tags for example, slot cards from everywhere I go etc. Add in my slot club premiums like bungees and hats and t-shirts etc. I think as you put it, I am more a collector of Casino Memorabilia as a whole rather than just tokens or chips. The Chips might be the biggest component of my collection but I do have quite a few dice and decks of cards, slot cups and so on. Casino items and ephemera(?) I think are of a whole cultural significance on their own. They tell a lot of the whole casino culture and business and all. Everything from the table layouts and cards and dice to the chips and the barware and slot cards and cups and now the payout vouchers and electronic room keys etc are all indicators of where the industry has been and where it is going. One thing that I have that is probably virtually extinct or will be soon is a roll of quarters with a casino wrapper. Hopefully I will be able to squeak out a few more but with the coinless machines out there now coins and tokens will probably end up no more. Except for making out change from your voucher. I have noticed in LV that many machines don't even have coin slots anymore. Get your slot cups too. They will probably be gone before long.

It isn't only LV either. It has taken me a while but I have started to hit boats around home, here and have been picking up chips and tokens and slot cups from the local boats as well.

Incidentaly, one of my favorite HOUSE CHIPS is the Sigfried and Roy Mirage chip. My least favorites are the $1 Orleans(my first chips incidentally) and the chips at Hollywood-Aurora, IL. The Hollywood chips are nice and attractive but plastic and very difficult to handle. They are slipery and do not stack well. Incidentally when at Hollywood a couple nights ago the dealer, everytime she got a tip, shouted out "Five for the Dealer" or whatever the tip was. Then she would smack the chips on the tip box so hard I thought she was going to break them. It was VERY LOUD too. Every other time anywhere else it is a tap on the edge of the tray and a Thank you.

Also, for information. It appears that Hollywood Aurora, especially on nickle video slots is installing the voucher system where you get a pay slip instead of coins. My girlfriend had a couple big hits, one over 2000 coins and the machine was still paying out in coins or hand pay. The tickets didn't seem to be operating yet. So, I guess, Grab your tokens while you can.