Jan. 2019 - Magnolia House in Rancho Cordova had apparently been open for a single night (soft opening) for reporters; eventually the cardroom got it together and began games. But nobody believed it was open, much less even existed. I may have been the first collector to score some chips - then the real fun began - convincing other collectors that they were real!! The job got easier after I reported that Rancho's Club down the street had burned down and that Magnolia House obtained its state license.

Feb - visited Las Vegas for the Casinorama and stopped off at the Downtown Grand to buy some of the anniversary chips. The chip ended up being voted COTY in June. (Insert coyote noises here: Ahhhwooooo!)

April - Flea market find, The Palm Springs Key Club, shook up everyone as a newly-discovered old gambling venue.

June - scored a Lucky Lady (San Diego) $5 Drop Chip after some begging and pleading!

July - "Gee," I muttered to myself as I eyeballed the chips on the tables. "Don't remember the oak tree on River Rock chips as being red." Sure enough, an entire new rack to break the news about!

Aug - OK, who would go into a cardroom and ask, "Do you have any $6.66 chips?" But having discovered Casino Chico had released such a creature (think it was Charles Kaplan who made the discovery) - I just had to drive back up there to get some. Yeah, I'm a phanatic!

Sept. - this should have been eeeeasy. But things are not always predictable in California card rooms. Who'da thunk that the owner of The 19th Hole would refuse to sell his dollar chips because they cost HIM $1.10 each? I got mine by correctly identifying how many California card rooms were then in operation (think the magic number was 68) - he was impressed enough to sell me one.

Oct. - I waited 3 years to get a Pauma $5 yellow Comp Chip! You have to go to the casino between noon and 4 PM on a Monday or Wednesday only in a month when they offer the "Pay $20 Get $30 In Chips" deal. But I work in Beverly Hills on those days! Finally - the offer came in a brochure and Monday was . . . Columbus Day. Office closed. Casino open. Yaaayyyyy!

But I guess the most memorable: Harrah's Northern California $2.50 snapper, May 2019. I'd heard the horror stories. Walter tried to buy a bunch of chips, security caught him and made him cash them all back in; returned later in the day, same guard caught him and again took the chips and his player's card too. Raulin - played some blackjack, got lucky and picked up a few snappers, pocketed them and marched out. Jay - went to the Cage and explained he was a chip historian or some such - was allowed to take a sampling out as a special favor. Now, how could I get some out??? I've told the tale before but . . . bought at the table during a dealer/dropbox changeover, dashed into the men's room, stashed the chips ($1, $2,50, $5) in my shoes and walked out of the casino an inch taller than when I came in. Hey, I'm a growing boy! It was raining that afternoon and I noticed the Guards outside the door were not attired in raincoats . . . just had to walk past them, said something like, "Heyyy, kinda wet out here, isn't it?" And shuffled to my truck. QED!