Even though most people are older in this hobby. I don't think age has anything to do with a sparked interest in the hobby. I started collecting casino memorabilia at age 14 at Lake Tahoe where I bought a couple decks of cards and a pair of dice. Later that year I got my first chip from the Sahara Tahoe. Ever since then I was interested in the history of the casinos and I did a lot of research. That was in 1975. For years I actually thought I was the only person in the world that collected this type of stuff - until the late 1980's when I noticed a letter to the Editor in Nevada Magazine from a person that collected casino playing cards. I tracked down that person and many other people did the same to when they noticed the letter in the magazine. Then I had a small group of people that I could trade my stuff with.

I think at a younger age something has to really spark your interest to collect something. As you get older you do tend to have more disposable income and can pursue a collection type hobby with a little more gusto. I tried to interest my son in the hobby, brought him to the convention one year and he loved Doug Saito's presentation. Thought he was hooked, I was wrong.

I actually believe it is a great idea. If their was a club like this when I started collecting it would have been a great resource.