Silly newbie question (1 Viewer)

scbill88

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So I have a few MGM Grand Las Vegas $1 chips I bought off eBay a couple years back just for fun. They seem to cost north of $2 anywhere I have looked and I think I actually paid $2-$5 for the 5 that I own. Anyway, to complete the rack there is nothing wrong with me giving $95 to a friend going out there for a convention, and him bringing them home to me is there? Am i missing something? These are Paulsons and having a rack at $1 a chip sounds great to me. I understand that $1 and fracs is all I will ever acquire this way. Also, anyone know if MGM LV has a .25? That would make 2 complete racks lol.
 
So I have a few MGM Grand Las Vegas $1 chips I bought off eBay a couple years back just for fun. They seem to cost north of $2 anywhere I have looked and I think I actually paid $2-$5 for the 5 that I own. Anyway, to complete the rack there is nothing wrong with me giving $95 to a friend going out there for a convention, and him bringing them home to me is there? Am i missing something? These are Paulsons and having a rack at $1 a chip sounds great to me. I understand that $1 and fracs is all I will ever acquire this way. Also, anyone know if MGM LV has a .25? That would make 2 complete racks lol.
Yeah that's the best way to "buy" paulson $1 chips. The only hitch is whether the particular chip you're referring to is still live on the the casino floor - most casinos change their chips from time to time.
(It's much hard to do with quarters because so few casinos have them and then only for one or two strange table games. I don't think MGM LV does, but somebody smarter is sure to chime in.)
 
Not a silly question at all, it's actually smarter to harvest them yourself if you have the opportunity to do so. The only issue is, actually harvesting the chips, some (most) casinos frown upon doing so, and it may be more complicated than it sounds. I've managed to sneak out a couple of racks from different casinos and they always ask questions (especially at tables). I did manage to visit one poker room so far, and it's quite easy to grab racks from the cage, but if the casino does not have a poker room/cage then tables might be the only way to acquire the chips.
 
Yeah that's the best way to "buy" paulson $1 chips. The only hitch is whether the particular chip you're referring to is still live on the the casino floor - most casinos change their chips from time to time.
(It's much hard to do with quarters because so few casinos have them and then only for one or two strange table games. I don't think MGM LV does, but somebody smarter is sure to chime in.)
Thanks…I actually have Harrahs Cherokee just a little bit away…I am pretty sure those are hat and cane Paulsons so I could mill them and make them anything I want. The MGM’s are house molds so they will stay MGM $1’s.
 
MGM Detroit has quarters, but they are expensive as people have to harvest them playing table games.
I have seen those on here but like you said…not cheap. By harvest them you mean you can’t throw down a $20 at the table, they stay on the table and the cashier gives you chips when you leave?
 
Casinos guard fracs because they have to pay more for the chip than the frac value. You’ll see. It isn’t that easy with fractionals.
 
Not a silly question at all, it's actually smarter to harvest them yourself if you have the opportunity to do so. The only issue is, actually harvesting the chips, some (most) casinos frown upon doing so, and it may be more complicated than it sounds. I've managed to sneak out a couple of racks from different casinos and they always ask questions (especially at tables). I did manage to visit one poker room so far, and it's quite easy to grab racks from the cage, but if the casino does not have a poker room/cage then tables might be the only way to acquire the chips.
I have never been to Vegas or Atlantic city but from movies I assumed every casino had a window where you can buy chips and cash out at the end of the night.
 
I have never been to Vegas or Atlantic city but from movies I assumed every casino had a window where you can buy chips and cash out at the end of the night.
Not super experienced with harvesting, but I imagine unless there’s poker nobody should have a need to get 100 $1 chips from the cage when most games have a $25 minimum bet
 
I have never been to Vegas or Atlantic city but from movies I assumed every casino had a window where you can buy chips and cash out at the end of the night.
Casinos don't like when low denomination chips leave the table. Let's say you go play craps and buy in for $300. You don't buy chips at the cage you buy them at the table. You have a good evening and have 643 dollars. A lot of $1s, $5s and $25s. But if you look at it you'll see that it's mostly in $25s and some in $5s. The $1s you've been making change for the dealers, win a $24 dollar bit and you'll hear 'drop me a dollar' as they slide you are $25.

The dealers have maybe 400 total $1s on a table that has 3000 chips on it. But they are ALWAYS using them. If one player out of 16 had 100 of them they'd have a problem. If 2 players had them they'd struggle to deal. If and when the table runs out of chips they have to get a delivery restocking them. This takes a long time, disrupts the game and the players HATE it. A number of players will just leave. A large number won't play on a table with a new bank. So the casino tries to keep the change ON the table as much as possible. So when you go to leave what do you do with your 643? you put them in the center of the table and they give you a $500, a $100, a $25, 3x $5s and 3x $1s and point you towards the cage.

Poker is a bit different, but if you buy a rack of $1s, put them in a backpack and walk out you'll get some attention. Even some fun stories about casinos tracking people down not for the chips but for the plastic rack. Some casinos don't care and on a slow night dealers or the cage might help you find a rack of pristine chips for a nice tip. Some won't even sell you a $1 for a souvenir. There are posts on here, just use the search feature and type in 'harvest' and you'll find lots of stories.
 
Casinos don't like when low denomination chips leave the table. Let's say you go play craps and buy in for $300. You don't buy chips at the cage you buy them at the table. You have a good evening and have 643 dollars. A lot of $1s, $5s and $25s. But if you look at it you'll see that it's mostly in $25s and some in $5s. The $1s you've been making change for the dealers, win a $24 dollar bit and you'll hear 'drop me a dollar' as they slide you are $25.

The dealers have maybe 400 total $1s on a table that has 3000 chips on it. But they are ALWAYS using them. If one player out of 16 had 100 of them they'd have a problem. If 2 players had them they'd struggle to deal. If and when the table runs out of chips they have to get a delivery restocking them. This takes a long time, disrupts the game and the players HATE it. A number of players will just leave. A large number won't play on a table with a new bank. So the casino tries to keep the change ON the table as much as possible. So when you go to leave what do you do with your 643? you put them in the center of the table and they give you a $500, a $100, a $25, 3x $5s and 3x $1s and point you towards the cage.

Poker is a bit different, but if you buy a rack of $1s, put them in a backpack and walk out you'll get some attention. Even some fun stories about casinos tracking people down not for the chips but for the plastic rack. Some casinos don't care and on a slow night dealers or the cage might help you find a rack of pristine chips for a nice tip. Some won't even sell you a $1 for a souvenir. There are posts on here, just use the search feature and type in 'harvest' and you'll find lots of stories.
Lots of good info…thanks!
 

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