Second attempt - tried to post this morning from home, but the message seems to have vanished, so here it is again.....

Managed to get up to London yesterday and visit a few casinos, with a few new chips....

Sportsman first. I first visited the Sportsman about 4 weeks ago, and went back to pick up one of the £10 Large Key chips still in use - in fact all chips from £10 upwards are either large key or scroll molds! Managed to pick up one fair condition £10 chip, but also since my first visit the £5 rack had been changed, and so a new £5 chip (it's red, not reddish-brown as it appears in the scan). Amazing considering the age of the higher value chips and the fact that the £5 chips were all in good condition. I'm now waiting to see if the £1's get changed!

Then onto the Palm Beach. My favourite casino, but as jackets have to be worn after 7pm, and I didn't have one on I only had about 45 minutes in there. Managed to pick up some £1 chips which is difficult as tables are £5 or £10 minimums - bought some from the dealer to use as tips for the waitress (she got some, I kept some!). Interesting that they have the clover mold chips which are used by London Clubs International and which were introduced just before LCI sold the Palm Beach to Stanley Casinos! (The £5 is also red - something about my scanner and B&G red chips!)

Then onto Napoleons where the clientel is almost entirely Chinese due to the proximity of London's Chinatown area. Always busy, and I was annoyed on entry to find that they were replacing the membership cards with a new design and before I realised my old card was taken and they wouldn't let me keep it. Nice for collectors though - CIC chips, including the £2.50. £5 minimums, so played £1 roulette and tried to change my 4 last chips for cash to get £1 chips - the dealer obvioulsy wanted to get rid of some odd chips, and paid me £4 with 1 x 50p, 1 x £1 and 1 x £2.50 chip. His pit boss looked surprised but that's what happened! If I'd have known, I wouldn't have spent £60 trying to hit blackjack at the £5 BJ table to get a £2.50 chip!!!

Finally onto the HR which had nothing to report - always busy, with the strange semi-roulettes still very popular (dealer spins the roulette ball on a regular wheel, betting is all done at terminals around the casino). Chips are getting a bit worn as seems to happen with chipcos that gets lots of use, and the whole place looks like it needs a refurbishment after less than 18 months in operation.

And finally, the $2.50 was given to me by a friend just back from a cruise - can anyone give me any details? Thanks.

That's it for now - several of the chips are available for trade - I collect English & Nevada, and could also do with some Colorado & Deadwood chips. Hey, I also need one of those new $10 chips from AC (can't remember where from - must go check the chipboard archives.....)

Jason