Unfortunately, I was only able to spend two days in Berlin. Our office is in the Sony Center, an incredible $1.5 billion complex which is directly across the street from the equally amazing Potsdamerplatz complex, which, among other things, contains the Spielbank Berlin (casino). I snuck over between meeting for a few minutes of chipping. Of course.

Now, the casinos in Germany, unlike those in the UK, are public. There is a 10DM admission fee, which is recoupable if you buy at least 100DM in jetons. The casino is new and quite beautiful. There was a single blackjack table and three roulette tables on the low-rollers level. The stickmen on the roulettes are quite nimble, it's worth the price of admission to watch them.

To the point, though, when you buy your 100DM of jetons, the 10DM admission refund is given back to you in the form of a lovely BetG chip, which is pictured below. The jetons are no different than the flimsy pieces of translucent plastic used anywhere else in Europe, so I won't bore you with an image.

I had wanted to do at least a few minutes of gambling, but the blackjack table was three deep and there was no chance at that. I wandered over to one of the roulettes, where the minimum bet (not aggregate bet, but single bet) is 20DM (or about $9.00). I placed a single 20DM bet on a corner - it hit and I left.

On cashing out, I asked the cashier for a 5DM jeton, which he gave me. I then mentioned that I collect casino chips and he asked me for the jeton back and replaced it with a brand new one.

Nice folks in Germany. Gotta get back soon.