This time of the year is a busy time for the Asian casino hosts as many from China in particular like to come to Las Vegas to play. Chinese New Year is Feb 10th this year and there are lots of special events for the Asian visitors. Look for quite a number of $8 chip issues, as 8 is a "lucky number" for some Chinese players. Lots of these never get actually played on the tables but are taken as pocket pieces. Still, collectors seem to be able to get a few of each issue for their collections.