Deserves a complete and honest answer.

Years ago the had a strict policy that only casino related items can be on a dealers table.
That policy was enforced and in effect for many years.
I even remember the board not allowing someone in to sell personal chips because they were not true 'Casino' chips.

However when that policy was made we had no shortage of dealers interested in a table and for many years even had a waiting list.

Well those days are gone and as our regular dealers age, fewer and fewer of them take tables at the convention. It has been a real struggle over the past several years and and convention chair can confirm that, just as anyone attending the convention can see for themselves.

So one of the topics the board discusses every year is how do we get more dealers and fill the room?

We pay the same for the room, security, advertising and other facilities for 50 dealers as we do for 150.

The BOD made a decision 2-3 years ago to go after some other groups that are somewhat related to our own collectables and may bring in some cross collectors. You regularly see casino chips at coin shows, why not allow coin dealers at our show?

We approached coin clubs, playing card clubs, antique stores, and numerous other places with the thought that if we would allow some of these items (at the discretion of the board), we can get more dealers and fill the room while at the same time keeping costs down for both dealers and attendees.

So, with that thought in mind we decided to allow some other collectables dealers into the convention.

Now I know some will disagree, just like with every other decisions we make.
Some will say this should remain a casino collectibles show only.

We believe that is somewhat shortsighted and we are trying to prevent our convention from becoming a think of the past. I can sit idly by and see the convention die a slow death, OR we can try and do something about it.

And that is what we tried to do.

As far as I know slabbed chips are not banned from the convention. We even had a slabbing company have a table at our show years back. While those that do show slabbed chips tend to be shunned as most don't agree with slabbing, we don't say anything in our contract about not allowing them.

I remember one or two of our dealers having slabbed chips at thier table and while they no longer display them, those dealers still have tables.

Hope that helps answer some of your questions.

See you soon,
Doug