Chip collecting

I have read some posters talking about a chip for their collection and I am dumfounded why I have never done this. What's the best way to get a nice looking chip? I am assuming you can walk up to the cage and get one but I have no clue.

 

I collect new and old chips. Whenever I buy into a game in Vegas, I sort through the chips looking for ones I don't have or ones that jump out at me as being nicer condition than the ones I currently have. If you're looking to jump-start a collection, use sites like eBay or OldVegasChips.com. When looking for a chip in good condition, you want to make sure that the center inlay (artwork) is free or fading, fingerprints and stains and that the small indentations are free of dirt. Fortunately, chips can easily be cleaned and collector's don't care if they're "restored". They ain't comic books.

 

I usually go to the cage and ask.

 

I do not collect, but I do have a $5 Willie Gault chip from 4Q's. He is as smooth as a chocolate swirl..

 

I collect chips, $1, every trip to Vegas. I always go to the cage and tell them I collect chips and would like to buy a $1 chip. If you do it during a weekday when it is slow I've noticed that many many times the cashier will go fetch a brand new chip. When they do this I make sure to tip. I've done this at every casino in Las Vegas and the only time the cage didn't comply was at the Four Queens, they told me I had to get one from a cocktail waitress. You'll have no problems going to the cage. Have fun!!!

 

Thanks everyone. I'm not looking for collector grade stuff, just something to have to show I was there. Kinda like my logo golf ball collection.

 

I like collecting $1 chips from every casino I play at. I have a personal rule (that I have broken on at least one occasion) that I must obtain my chips during play at one of the tables. The game doesn't matter. It just seems much more fun to do it this way than walking up to the cage and buying a chip. I will usually ask for $5 in singles when I buy in and sort through them for the cleanest/best-looking one and put it in my pocket. I have collected around 45 chips between Nevada and California this way and have had a fun time doing it.

 

Same here, it seems they will find you a nice one it they know you are going to keep it.

 

I also started doing this last year. I think I collected 22 during the four night stay in town. I too like getting the chips while playing. I feel guilty about the idea of buying them online from closed casinos....if I only knew I'd do this some day.

I need to get them from the Boardwalk, old and new Aladdin, Terribles.

 

I have been collecting for years but I have a restriction that the chip has to come from a casino that I have actually gambled in. Just about all of mine have been stuck in my pocket while actually playing. Most are dollars and five dollar chips. The only two I know I have that are "uncirculated" are two $25 Mary Wilson chips that the RIO gave us as a little gift at one of the New Years Eve parties that they invited us to. She was the entertainer that night. I don't think they have ever spent over about 5 minutes outside the presentation box that they came in. The last time I inventoried them a couple of years ago, I had a little over $1,100 in face value.

 

I just started this.
Not interested in simply getting any chips but rather will keep a $5 from a game I am actually playing.

If I have an insanely lucky run I may actually keep a $25 chip.

 

Anyone got any good ideas for showcasing the chips as I think I'm going to start collecting on my next trip in June but I've no idea how to store them, don't want to just chuck them in a box or cupboard so any ideas welcome.

 

This is how I collect chips also. I'm a craps player and whenever I play at a casino I keep a $1.00 chip as a memento that I played there. If I managed to get a little profit at that casino I keep a $5.00 chip as a reminder. If I cashed out $1K or more in profit I keep a $25.00 chip.

So far I have a green chip from the Cal and MSS. The rest are all reds and whites.

I think this is a fun way to collect chips and makes a great conversation piece.

 

The cashier is the best source followed by the pit boss, if you are known there as a player and are staying on site. I have close to 300 now, and yes; I have played at 85% of them. (50+ years of accrued collecting) I'll be in Germany next month and plan to add Wiesbaden to the my total. The other 15% are truly collector chips that carry premiums. Some are 75-100 years old and older.

 

I too have the rule of playing to get my chips however I am breaking it for the Riv as I won't make it back before it closes.

This is the start of my display. Picture frame with black fleece.

 

Oh dear I do this too and many times the cashier will look for a new or clean(er) chip but it never occurred to me to tip them. I thought cashiers are not allowed to receive tips?

 

Binions and Four Queens downtown wouldn't let us buy a $1 chip from their cashier's cage. This was as of last June. I recall having a hard time from them on a trip prior to that as well. They're the only two casinos I've been into that give me attitude about it.

 

Like many of you I started collecting a chip wherever I played. When some of those starting closing down I decided to collect chips from closed casinos. I thought it was cool when casinos started releasing commemorative chips but that got out of hand quickly. Way too many to collect. My ex wife thought collecting chips was stupid (reason #967 out of 10,000 why she's an EX wife) but my girlfriend thinks it's cool so I have resumed

 

My husband has been collecting for many years. He typically will just ask a black jack dealer, who has no customers, for a $1 chip.

He displays them in a really nice case that he ordered on line . The chips fit in there perfectly and they look really nice hanging in our basement.

 

Here is mine. I try or only try to collect in 20's I'm trying to reach 100 then I am done..lol
All Las Vegas, past and present.