What we learned from the consultant, is that the MoGH did not have the expertise or resources to open a SUCCESSFUL brick and mortar museum. Sure, we had opportunities to give it a try, but most likely they would have been a failure. Why?

1) We would need to hire an experienced museum director, a paid position for someone to be in charge of day to day operations. This is new territory, since the CCA/MoGH has never had an employee. That means HR responsibilities and someone on the MoGH board to have oversight responsibilities.

2) We would need to get all the licenses and permits required to operate a retail operation. Again, new territory for the CCA/MoGH.

3) We would need a retail space large enough for the museum and yet affordable and someplace with enough foot traffic to attract visitors.

4) Museums are mostly funded through patronage and not through paid admissions. Fund raising enough to cover operational expenses for a museum would be very challenging.

5) We would need funds to start up the operation. The current MoGH account doesn't have any where near enough funds that would be needed to fix up a space into a presentable museum.

As collectors of casino items we have a myopic view of a MoGH museum. Meaning that as collectors, the majority of us think that a museum is a fantastic idea. But, if we look beyond collector to the general public, how much interest would there be a casino museum? The general public has no idea of chip rarity and value and the things we collect and treasure the most would be of little interest to them. The general public would be more interested in seeing old slot machines and gaming equipment, something that is out of our main focus. So all in all, I believe that an honest effort was made for a MoGH Museum, but it was eventually decided that it was not a workable idea.

You have to remember, that the MoGH started out as the "Building Fund". A clubhouse for CCA members. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but eventually they realized that it was not a workable idea and then switched it to the MoGH. You have to pursue new ideas and make intelligent decisions in order to move successfully forward.