Here goes: I attended the G2E show last week with the hope of landing a job in Gaming Sales - so far the response has been great, and I'm hoping to finalize something by the end of the month. BEING THE CHIPPER THAT I AM, however, in between meetings with Sales Managers & VP's I was busily grabbing everything that even looked like a chip. It was fun to see the chips others got - I really only stayed in the bigger booths up front (the bigger companies), so that is reflected in what I brought back...

I'm really not sure how much these are worth to sample collectors, but a number of them sure seem nice to me! The Bally MindPlay chips operate by a visual scan device that they actually incorporate into their tables. It can read the edges, because they are perfectly molded in straight lines. I asked if there wasn't a security risk by somebody being able to tap into the tables software, so they could know what all the cards were - they said no, the data doesn't get sent out of the table until after play is complete. It was a trip to see the data on a big plasma screen behind the dealer; it actually knew when I put more chips on and what my total bet was (no more starting high to earn comps, then betting the minimum when the pit boss moves on to other tables). These chips were really being watched, and I was only able to get one trader. I was unaware that Bourgogne et Grasset had bought PaulSon and Bud Jones - they are obviously the big chip source now (conglomerated, they are going by GPI, Gaming Partners International - but to avoid confusion (?) they are still going to sell under all the old brand names). One chip GPI/BG was showing, had a microchip imbedded inside. They have tables & readers that give instant data to management. One of the engineers told me that there are over 4.2 billion possible addresses for each chip, so an entire company's chip stock could be converted to this system. One cool thing that it can do is instantaneously tell you the value of every chip in the cage... These "RFID" chips were guarded like gold - I was unable to get any. The guy told me that 2 $1 chips had been swiped when he wasn't looking...

*Here is the deal on the traders I'm offering: since I don't know what they are worth, I'm going to let YOU name what you will give to me via email. I'm only interested in uncirculated/mint Hard Rock musician chips; no holidays, cars, special events - just the LE musicians or house chips. The 2 HR's I currently have are the Lenny Kravitz $5 and the Playboy Bunny Money $5. I really have no idea what these samples are worth to collectors - but if I can swing a $25 Bunny Money for the whole lot, I'll gladly do it!

For ease of smaller collectors (in case the value is just not there for a $25 Bunny Money), I've split the collection into 4 groups; 2 groups of 4 roullettes each, with a ShuffleMaster "Let It Ride", and two BG chips as shown. The 3rd group is 9 BG's, 1 ShuffleMaster "Let It Ride", and 4 Paulson. The 4th group, along the bottom, has 9 BG's, 1 ShuffleMaster "Let It Ride", the only Bally "MindPlay" chip I have to trade, 2 Bud Jones, and 10 Paulson's (including 2 oversized, a $10k & $5k). I should note that both group 3 & 4 have two VERY nice BG chips: one is pink with a mylar/3D'ish center, and one that has a beautiful ladies face on one side and a colorful Toucan on the other (both sides are visible in scan).

SO,
Group #1(7 chips), upper left.
Group #2(7 chips), upper right.
Group #3(14 chips), middle two rows.
Group #4(23 chips), bottom two rows.

Offers of a $25 HR Bunny Money will get preference, (1 offer of a $25 Bunny Money will get all, 2 offers will trigger a bid-off, in which case the whole lot will go to whoever makes a sweeter offer). In lieu of a $25 Bunny Money offer, I'll take individual offers on any of the 4 groups...
***Every chip is in great condition, although the ShuffleMaster "Let It Ride" and Bally MindPlay chips have seen minimal play. Sorry about the poor photo, I can't figure out how to do a hi-res scan without it being a huge file...

HAVE FUN!