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Starting Chip Collecting

Discussion in 'Casino Gaming' started by chrisn42, Sep 17, 2012.

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  1. chrisn42

    chrisn42 Tourist

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    I realize this is probably a silly question, but on my upcoming trip to Vegas I've decided that I want to start collecting casino chips. How does one go about it? Just go upto the cage and buy a single $1.00 chip, or will they not do that?
     
  2. Thebigmg

    Thebigmg Tourist

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    I have collected in the past - and found that by giving a bit of background as to the fact you are collecting when going to the cashier - that they will actually try and find a good shiny example for you to add to your collection.

    Never had any problems/strange looks when asking.

    Hope this helps,

    MG
     
  3. elrohir44

    elrohir44 Low-Roller

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    I prefer to take the chips from an actual table game while I am playing. That way you can say you played at each of the casinos in your collection. I feel this gives me a closer connection to my collection and it makes it a little more significant.
     
  4. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    My husband collects chips, but he has to have played with them. Usually he picks the nicest one out of his stack and pockets it.

    But yes, just go to the cage and tell them you are collecting. They will almost always help you out. If they don't, go to another cashier. :)
     
  5. chrisn42

    chrisn42 Tourist

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    Thanks for the replies! I was hoping it was that easy, but wasn't sure if the casinos would give you a hard time if that's all you went up to the cage for. That's good to know thanks so much! I'm going to see how many I can collect when I'm there.
     
  6. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    The cashiers will be more than happy to help. Some casinos have old and new chips. If you explain the reason that you want them they will look for a good one and ask if you want an old or new one.
     
  7. jhpa

    jhpa VIP Whale

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    I have started in the past year and only collect chips from csino where I have played. It is pretty easy to buy in at a craps table or whatever and simply pocket a chip. I now have over 75 chips.

    A couple things to consider.

    Do you want only $1 chips? Or higher denominations?

    If you are into roulette, you have the option of pocketing a table chip.Some casinos will not allow you to do this so You mayhave to do it on the sly.

    There is a great store in Vegas called Spinetttis - not far from Freemont street downtown.. Actually it is part store, part museum. They also have a website. You can buy chips from them for a slight markup over face value. For me, I was able to purchase some chips from casinos where I played in the past but that are now closed. (I got one from O'Sheas for example.).

    Spinettis also has display clases and sleeves for your chips. I got a three ring binder tha will hold 100 chips. They also have frames and other display items.
     
  8. gmunole

    gmunole Tourist

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    I have found that some casinos will not sell chips at the cashier. Well not a single $1 chip. Most will and like what was said above if you tell them you are collecting them or want a souvenir they will try to get you a clean or sometime uncirculated chip.

    I collect $1 chips for places that I have played at, and $5 chips for places that I have stayed at.

    I dont have a way to display them so I just have stacks of chips right now.

    I also developed a map of places that have chips, so I dont walk into a slots parlor and look for chips. I took the information from chip guide, plugged the locations into the my google maps app. So when we are in town and looking for something to do I just open the app and off we go.
     
  9. chrisn42

    chrisn42 Tourist

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    Thanks for the tips and the Spinettis store info. I just may try and visit them when I'm there. I think I'm just going to try for $1 chips at all the strip casinos. If time allows I'm going to try Fremont street just for the history, I think those would be cool to have. Each time I've been I say I'm gonna visit Fremont street but never end up making it there.
     
  10. habs0nut

    habs0nut VIP Whale

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    I started to collect $1 chips on my first trip. If I didn't play at a place I just went to the cage and asked to buy one. 95% of the cashiers were awesome and tried to get me one as clean as possible. The only one where I was denied was at the Golden Gate however I was able to get one from them on my next trip.

    I visited Spinettis and bought an inlay for a frame to display the chips. I bought a frame from IKEA and my collection is now hanging on my wall.
     
  11. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    Ill just add to what's already been said. I collected $1 from every casino on the strip last trip by simply walking up to the cage and asking for one. Not once did I get turned down and almost every cashier tried to find the cleanest one in the bunch.
     
  12. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I'm also like some posters here who collect chips only from the casinos I play in.

    I'll pocket a dollar chip from all the crap tables I play at. If I happen to double my buy-in at that particular table I'll collect a 5 dollar chip.

    I'm a low roller ( I buy-in at $200 or $300 ) and told myself that if I manage to post a $1000 profit I will collect a green chip.

    So far no green chips...lol!
     
  13. HAWJOHN

    HAWJOHN Tourist

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    I had the same problem at the Golden Gate. The cashier told me that they were too small a casino. She did tell me to try one of the dealers. I also had problems at the Vegas club. The rest gladly made the exchange.
     
  14. y2mulder

    y2mulder Low-Roller

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    BIG chip collector.....love it.

    Cage is the easiest route, but you might find yourself stuck in lines. There are always dealers at dead tables that will be MORE than happy to help you, and it will take 5 seconds. Trust me, in Vegas...they have been through it.

    Dont get married to the idea of $1 chips. I have a ton of them, but my treasures are the higher denom chips since casinos usually make them special. (More money out of play - More profit). I have a $5 Blue Man chip. A $25 Hard Rock Jimi Hendrix chip. $5 Ozzy Osbourne chip. And the $8 oversized Chinese New Year chips are REALLY cool.

    A few casinos even have bulletin boards with chips for sale at the cage (Especially Palms). In the end a collection should cater to you, and the special ones will mean a lot more, even at a cost.
     
  15. chrisn42

    chrisn42 Tourist

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    Yea I didn't think about possibly long lines at the cage. I'll be in town for a week, so I'm figuring that earlier in the week it shouldn't be too bad. The last time I was in town Mon-Wed were super slow it seemed. So I'm thinking I'll try on those days.

    Thanks for all the replies and advice!
     
  16. gmunole

    gmunole Tourist

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    Does anyone have pictures of the chip displays that they could post?
     
  17. theotherone

    theotherone Low-Roller

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    After reading of chip collecting on this site I have been paying more attention to the chips while I play craps or BJ. I've been saving $1 chips from the casinos I visit but I check all denoms for rare or odd chips.

    Never thought of asking the cage directly. That's a good idea.
     
  18. habs0nut

    habs0nut VIP Whale

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    This one is mine

    [​IMG]
     
  19. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    I don't have many, but the few that I've gotten outside of playing have been going up to an empty craps table and getting one there. They have done something similar to what people mentioned with the cage in finding a nicer one.
     
  20. chrisn42

    chrisn42 Tourist

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    @habs0nut Thanks for sharing that's pretty awesome looking, and what I'm hoping to achieve! I can make out what most of them are so you don't have to list them, but what exactly does that frame represent...All strip casinos and downtown casinos? Or are there more on there?
     
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