Here is my take on the CCA Convention June 2019 in Las Vegas, it was an A.C.E. Absolute Cool Experience. Please let me start by letting you know what it’s all about to me. In a time long ago early chip collectors were not connected by anything but USPS snail mail and a few phone calls. Many people with parallel chip collecting interest never had the chance to meet in person for that face to face experience that no text, e-mail or phone call can provide. Buying, selling and trading on the internet are OK but has no comparison to shopping, looking, holding, inspecting, and talking about your chips in person. You can go to 100 Flea Markets, Garage Sales and Antique Stores and not find one 1,000th of what you will find at our Casino Collectors Association convention. If you enjoy collecting gambling related artifacts the CCA yearly convention is the BEST place to look around, buy, sell, trade and be EDUCATED. It is in fact a collector’s paradise.

I have had a table at all 27 conventions and every one of them has been an A.C.E. to me. This year I was lucky to share 2 tables with my good friend Steve Bedo and that was priceless. I also had the best helpers in the world, my two sons Tegan and Drew the T & D in T.D.S. ANNTIQUE GAMBLING CHIPS. My 2 boys have been to many conventions, over the years, together and separately they have shared our table. With their busy schedules we have not been able to have all 3 of T.D.S. together for a convention in 15 years. This convention was XTRA special for me watching Tegan and Drew wheel and deal from behind the table just like old times. They made many collectors some pretty nice deals and had fun doing it.

We offer 1 free Cherry Bell pull tab to every one that stops by our table and 5 free pull tabs to anyone with VOLUNTEER on their convention badge. The pull tabs winners can use their wins towards anything at my table. I always enjoy this part of our booth and I am happy to say this year we gave away over $180 worth of chips and items from our table, we had two $50 winners and two $20 winners with many smaller ones in between. It is such BIG fun to see people winning in Las Vegas. There are still 2 $50 winners with many smaller ones left in this batch of the pull tabs. Everyone will have the chance to be a winner next year. We also had a great time meeting and talking with all the people that came by to tell me they took the A.C.E. pledge (rule #2 of the A.C.E.. We gave away almost 80 “I took the A.C.E. pledge” chips. No way around it the CCA convention is an Absolute Cool Experience.

Of course I did add to my collection. Here are some of chips and photos from the convention. Seeing old friends and making new friends is what makes this convention worth looking forward to every year. Thank you to ALL the VOLUNTEERS that make this happen. C U N June 2020.

Having BIG fun, Steve