As collectors we always hear a non-collector proclaim that they have a chip at home, or with a relative and it means nothing to them, so they'll give to you. But alas, it never happens, or it's anything other than worth while!

Well I have a story along those lines that played out just days before the Convention. But my story goes back two years, when I had a chance encounter with Frank Toti, Vice President of Casino Operations at The Orleans Hotel and Casino.

At that time I had a chance encounter with Mr. Toti on the casino floor where I showed him the reconstructed chip debris of a $1,000 Orleans chip that did not match the existing Orleans $1,000 chip. He explained that the broken up version that I had was a first issue $1,000 chip that did not work well with the cameras and dealers and it was replaced almost immediately after opening.

In that conversation he confirmed that the Orleans did not have a $10,000 chip (it would appear that the ruch to re-order a replacement $1,000 chip, Gaming Commission records reflected a $10,000 chip and not a second $1,000, but thats another story).

Evidently Mr. Toti had some time on his hands, because he invited me over to the Main Cage (outside, not inside) and summoned a $5,000 chip for me to see. He then said that he had a chip I might be interested in, but it was in his office. So up to his office we went! While he was rummaging through a desk drawer, I was eyeballing all the wonderful momentoes that he had and wished I had about five minutes alone in there!

After a few minutes of searching he said he couldn't find it, but when "it" turns up he'll give it to me. I asked what "it" was and he said it was a chip with two different denominations on it! Wow, an error chip! Needless to say I was very, very excited.

Well, to make a long story short, during the ensuing two years I several times bumped into him on the casino floor, and over time I just let it go. Especially when he asked on one occassion what I thought of the chip? When I asked what chip, it dawned on him that he found it and gave it to someone else, but not me.

He said that he would get it back and give to me and I was thinking, yeah, right! You gave an error chip to someone who thought it was interesting to have and you're going to get it back!

Well, months and months went by and even thought I saw him several times, I didn't approach for fear of bugging him. However, several days before the Convention the family and I was having dinner at Canal Street (The Orleans upscale steak house) and Mr. Toti was at the table next to us. I nodded my head hello when he saw me, but we did not talk. After dinner he was on the casino floor and I decided to talk to him about another topic I was curious about, which was whether or not The Orleans was planning on doing a 10th Anniversary chip, since December of this year marks their 10th Anniversary.

Well, I walked up to him and asked. He said, you know, they asked me if we wanted to do that and I said sure, go ahead. He also said that he didn't know if they were going to do, but if they want to, it has his blessing.

When I was saying thank you and getting ready to walk away he said, hey hold on. Lets go to my office, I have something for you. When we got there he opened the desk draw, and pulled this out...

and handed it to me!

He was very concerned that he had told me that he would get it for me and he was true to his word!

Thank you Mr. Frank Toti!

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis