When the old high denomination Bahamas Playboy chips became available last Fall, I thought about some old magazine articles. I have 2 old magazines from 1979 and 1980 that contain articles about the new Bahamas Playboy Casino and the proposed Atlantic City Playboy Casino. Over the holidays I put both magazine covers, articles and pictures on my website. Typos are possible - it was the holidays.

Gambling Times - December, 1979

Interview with Val Lownes, Director of Bahamas Playboy Casino and the son of Victor Lownes.

CHIPS - July 1980 - Premier Edition (and what we think is the only edition)

Article and Interview with Victor Lownes.

For those unfamiliar with Victor Lownes, here is a blurb form the internet...

By 1981, Lownes was senior VP in charge of the Playboy casinos worldwide, the moneymaking part of the whole Playboy empire. He was leading the effort to open up Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.A. for gambling from his London base. Work was started on the future Atlantic City Casino building.

However the British had always been uneasy with a foreign controlled casino operating in London. Lownes was (falsely) accused of irregularities by the British gaming authorities. Hefner panicked and before Lownes even appeared before the authorities he was fired in an obvious attempt to save the New Jersey deal. Lownes might have been able to sort out all the problems had he been given the chance. Without him, the British gaming license was revoked and Playboy lost their most valuable assets. Playboy's temporary gaming license in Atlantic City was not renewed.

Playboy, which made $31 million in the year ending June 30, 1981, lost more than $51 million in the year ending June 30, 1982. Playboy barely survived.

If you care to read them, here is the link to both magazine articles...

http://www.caribbeancasinochips.com/BAHAMAS_PAGE_2.htm