Really dumb and I think my first time to a casino that I played any table games. MGM Grand for the ABC bowling tournament, pretty sure 1984. I played roulette, because, heck it's so easy? As I was done losing all my chips, I started to walk away and the dealer stopped me and said, "hey you can't take those with you." Oh? So later I played again and of course, took one with me.

Only proof that this is from the MGM Grand Reno is, I pocketed it myself. So there you have my first chip which there's no way to attribute to anywhere, and it probably cost me $200? And to add to that, I don't think I brought home a $1 chip, probably a slot token, ash tray, soap and Keno paper, but no real casino check.

Not a very exciting start. Reno 1990 I just about wore out a pair of shoes, walking to ever casino, getting one chip from each. So I'd say that's when I started collecting more than, odds and ends. Also once the bowling team went to Reno, we started going to Las Vegas from the kitty money. I'll guess that in 1991, we stayed at Excalibur and the hotel kitty corner was still the closed down Marina. I drove all of us to Laughlin, where I collected more chips...

A guy I bowled with was into poker and saw an article in Poker Player Magazine about how there was a club for people who collected casino chips, I immediately joined. And late to the party, that's how I ended up being member #1040.

That first chip?

Not very exciting or special, but I remember.