In my role as a California ChipGuide admin, I’ve been researching the history of California card rooms, and updating listings. I’ve been amazed by how many card rooms there were for which we do not have any known chips. There are known chips for just a fraction of the 1960s licensed card rooms. Maybe about half of the card rooms open in the 1970s and 1980s have known chips.

What surprises me the most are the card rooms that were open in the 1990s and 2000s, for which we do not have any known chips. I’m writing this post because I am hoping that some of you visited some of these places and walked away with a chip souvenir, and that you can share an image of that chip.

For example, Oakdale, which is a little north of Modesto, has a long history of licensed card rooms.

At 112 North Yosemite, was Jo Bell’s Card Room (open 1980s to 1995). We know of chips from there. ChipGuide listing; http://cgcm.themogh.org/cg_chip2.php?id=CAOAJB&v=3932158099

Oakdale Card Room (1995 - 1997) 112 North Yosemite – But no known chips.

Harold’s Card Casino (1997-2002) 112 North Yosemite – But no known chips

Mike's Card Casino (2002 - present) 112 North Yosemite - We know of chips from there. ChipGuide listing; http://cgcm.themogh.org/cg_chip2.php?id=CAOAMC&s=&v=3038638546

The Oakdale Card Room and Harold’s Card Casino were both owned by Harold Willey. The card rooms were both very active. I suspect that Harold used the same chips at both clubs. There were two contemporary Modesto newspaper articles about the rooms which have photographs (below) in which you can see (barely) the chips that were in play.

The Modesto Bee (2/4/1996).

The Modesto Bee, 5/5/1998

Did anyone here visit one or both card rooms? If so, what are your memories? Did you walk away with a chip, or even a matchbook? Can you share an image here and/or with the ChipGuide? Thank you for reading this post.