Around the Chinese Lunar New Year, annually, the Hollywood Park Casino would make available brass core chips in sets of three denominations, $2.50, $5 and $8, honoring that year's "zodiac animal." The chips were produced in limited quantities - think it was 500 for each set. There were two ways to get them: go to the cashier and buy a set, in which case you had to show your ID and were limited, as I recall, to buying just one set; or attending our Southern California Casino Collectibles Club monthly meeting, where a quantity of the special chips were available for purchase under a special agreement with the casino management. So, it was possible to buy three or four sets, depending on demand.

The chips were valid for play at the tables, but rarely used in that fashion. The $8 chip in particular being the "odd duck" for bets.

The colors of the special chips were standardized, $2.50 being turquoise, $5 red, and $8 -- ummm, I don't recall, maybe a darker blue?

This pleasant custom went on for quite some years but when the Hollywood Park was sold (and moved to a new location), the series ended. I think HPC still orders and issues some New Year's chips but in a more limited manner - one has to go to the casino at the commencement of the Chinese New Year (possibly be one of the first 100 people to enter when the New Year begins, and who knows the hour that it happens?), be seated at a table and hope that the Gaming Manager comes by with a Red Envelope for you, which might contain a prize chip. They are no longer brass-core, either. Very hard to obtain!