Trump Taj Mahal (1 Viewer)

[TomC727]

Long story short.

I lived in South Jersey for 5 years, and my first year there, I played every other weekend at the Taj. It wasn’t the sexy poker room that it once was since the Borgata had overtaken it, but I loved it there.

I stayed there during a job interview back in 2014 and I failed to keep some chips from there.

I recently watched Rounders again, and the scenes from the Taj brought back memories.

I would even consider having a replica set made on CPC but I can’t replicate the $25 green.

Is finding a set downright impossible, or do they exist in the wild?

 

[MaxB]

I would even consider having a replica set made on CPC

That would be badass.

I know there are racks of $1 Taj floating around but I have not seen a complete set

 

[joepro]

My dad never stepped foot in a Trump casino because he hated him with a passion. My dad was a contractor and Trump had a really bad reputation for stiffing contractors, and anyone else who would front him money, goods, or services.

 

[Nuhockey]

My dad never stepped foot in a Trump casino because he hated him with a passion. My dad was a contractor and Trump had a really bad reputation for stiffing contractors, and anyone else who would front him money, goods, or services.

He put some small companies out of business because he owed them so much money and they did not have the resources to be tied up in court. It was a strategy he employed in building a lot of his buildings.

 

[Eloe2000]

I have fond memories of the Taj and considered trying to make this happen. There are tons of singles floating around. A couple racks of assembled 1s floating around on PCF. The $5s start to get expensive at around face value or more. The $25s go above face value. The $100s are more than face value as well if you can find them. These were all still redeemable for a while. I am not sure if they are any longer. Also, Trump being President boosted the demand and the prices. Don’t know if that price impact will linger.

 

[allforcharity]

According to the seller, the roulette wheel I have may have originally come from the TTM, because he got it at auction. If it's true, then it represents concrete proof that Mr. Trump is a terrible businessman, because any reasonably-operated casino of that size should never go bankrupt.

 

[Nuhockey]

This is something I mocked up a year or two ago with the TAJ colors and closest edge spots I could get to the actual TAJ chips on the E&C Mold.

 

[Eloe2000]

According to the seller, the roulette wheel I have may have originally come from the TTM, because he got it at auction. If it's true, then it represents concrete proof that Mr. Trump is a terrible businessman, because any reasonably-operated casino of that size should never go bankrupt.

The Taj was “the” casino in my days in AC pre-poker boom until the Borgata opened. They printed money.

 

[Nuhockey]

Taj was my hangout for 2 years or so. That poker room though the chips were grimy was great. A lot of action. I played in the Midnight madness tournament more times than I can count on Saturdays.

 

[Eloe2000]

This is something I mocked up a year or two ago with the TAJ colors and closest edge spots I could get to the actual TAJ chips on the E&C Mold.
View attachment 623906

I have considered this as well. Although I would go with the the 14 spots not the 18 spots because of the premium. And yeah the elephant crown mold is the way to go.

At some point I have to do something to scratch that itch.

 

[allforcharity]

The Taj was “the” casino in my days in AC pre-poker boom until the Borgata opened. They printed money.

Then they must have hemorrhaged it somewhere else.

 

[Nuhockey]

Then they must have hemorrhaged it somewhere else.

Unfortunately a lot of people stopped going to AC and other casinos closed too.

 

[TomC727]

This is something I mocked up a year or two ago with the TAJ colors and closest edge spots I could get to the actual TAJ chips on the E&C Mold.
View attachment 623906

Those are absolutely fantastic. I may have to make this set.

I’ve been able to scrounge up about 2 barrels of the $1’s between spinetti’s, Amazon, and eBay.

 

[Eloe2000]

This is actually a good project for the Chinese cards mold chips.

 

[upNdown]

Those are absolutely fantastic. I may have to make this set.

I’ve been able to scrounge up about 2 barrels of the $1’s between spinetti’s, Amazon, and eBay.

I'd tell you to keep scrounging. I put together a playable grand casino gulfport set like that a few year ago, and have recently put together a foxwoods set like that. It's a great way to do it because you always have something to do - searching eBay and the like, and you'll end up with something that nobody else has.
(It helps if you don't mind hosting a 5-handed game to make the set "playable")

 

[Eloe2000]

I'd tell you to keep scrounging. I put together a playable grand casino gulfport set like that a few year ago, and have recently put together a foxwoods set like that. It's a great way to do it because you always have something to do - searching eBay and the like, and you'll end up with something that nobody else has.
(It helps if you don't mind hosting a 5-handed game to make the set "playable")

This is my attitude. It gives me something to do. Although I have deviated slightly and since all of the chips from the 90s were mandated house denom mold with the same spot patterns I am going to do a true mixed set. $1s from all of the casinos and $5s from all of the casinos etc. This is a long term project though. As an example here are some of the different $1s.

 

[TomC727]

I'd tell you to keep scrounging. I put together a playable grand casino gulfport set like that a few year ago, and have recently put together a foxwoods set like that. It's a great way to do it because you always have something to do - searching eBay and the like, and you'll end up with something that nobody else has.
(It helps if you don't mind hosting a 5-handed game to make the set "playable")

That’s the plan. Ideally, a whole rack of $1’s eventually.

 

[rowlin]

The ‘04 USPC main event held there used a set of solid Paulson hotstamps that helped spark my interest in nice chips.

 

[Irish]

That’s the plan. Ideally, a whole rack of $1’s eventually.

They're out there, keep searching

 

[FordPickup92]

It's not easy to do, but could be done. 1s and 5s are attainable, but the rest of the higher denoms sell for face value +++ per chip

This is something I mocked up a year or two ago with the TAJ colors and closest edge spots I could get to the actual TAJ chips on the E&C Mold.
View attachment 623906

This option would probably be more affordable, and look just as nice, if not nicer. Finding ones and 5s that arent stained up bike tires is another feat

 

[Lil Tuna]

I was a regular player at Taj from about 06-10. As far as AC casinos go, you could not beat the action in the Taj poker room in that time frame. Easiest card room in town to make $.
Still working on completing a rack of the $1s but I’d say completing an actually set of these chips would be nearly impossible.

 

[Jhoov2412]

Long story short.

I lived in South Jersey for 5 years, and my first year there, I played every other weekend at the Taj. It wasn’t the sexy poker room that it once was since the Borgata had overtaken it, but I loved it there.

I stayed there during a job interview back in 2014 and I failed to keep some chips from there.

I recently watched Rounders again, and the scenes from the Taj brought back memories.

I would even consider having a replica set made on CPC but I can’t replicate the $25 green.

Is finding a set downright impossible, or do they exist in the wild?

It's not easy to do, but could be done. 1s and 5s are attainable, but the rest of the higher denoms sell for face value +++ per chip


This option would probably be more affordable, and look just as nice, if not nicer. Finding ones and 5s that arent stained up bike tires is another feat

I put together a rack of $1’s with 20 or so coming off the tables before the Taj closed and the rest coming from eBay. My rack probably cost me between $300-400 buying 1 or 2 at a time and at least half are pretty beat up.

I just checked eBay sales and you can def find enough $5’s to put together a rack or two if you are not in a rush but with shipping cost and buying one or a few at a time it will probably cost between $800-1200 a rack. The $25’s will likely be in the $20-$40 range each. I saw one sold for like $6 in December but you aren’t likely to find any for less then $20 very often.

 

[Ben8257]

Ohh the pain!! I love them also!

No wonder why I never win anything! Lol

I am going for a barrel each of the (4) Trump Casinos (there are 2 different plaza $1s) eventually would like 2 barrels of each but this is a long long term project for sure!

 

[Jhoov2412]

Ohh the pain!! I love them also!
View attachment 624044
No wonder why I never win anything! Lol

I am going for a barrel each of the (4) Trump Casinos (there are 2 different plaza $1s) eventually would like 2 barrels of each but this is a long long term project for sure!

Almost a barrel of Taj $5’s! Nice!!

 

[Eloe2000]

All of the Taj chips in VG+ condition sell for above face value. The $1, $2.50, and $5 are all readily available as singles since so many people brought them home from the casinos. Hell I threw a bunch away that I had in my junk drawer years ago before chipping. But yeah it’s the shipping cost on singles that kills you. But the $25s and up are not so readily available... especially in VG+ condition.

 

[upNdown]

But yeah it’s the shipping cost on singles that kills you.

.

but with shipping cost and buying one or a few at a time it will probably cost between $800-1200 a rack.

True. Shipping is expensive on eBay singles. But you have to put it out of your mind. It’s the vig. It’s the rake. It’s the cost of doing business.
I guess we’re all used to buying Paulson racks, knowing we can recover most or all of our money whenever we want to resell. Not gonna happen, this way.
Putting together a playable set or a heads up set or whatever, will cost you more than it’s worth. So decide whether you’re an investor or a collector and act accordingly.

 

[stevea]

My dad never stepped foot in a Trump casino because he hated him with a passion. My dad was a contractor and Trump had a really bad reputation for stiffing contractors, and anyone else who would front him money, goods, or services.

Thanks for not adding your opinion and trying to derail someone else’s question.

 

[PhilLaFond]

If recollection serves, there was a ceramic replica set done a few years back. I would post more, but I don't want to get in trouble with any authority type figures.

 

[viet rounder]

My first ever live game at the casino was at the Taj. I was inspired to go after watching Rounders. Surprisingly I was excited more so in the noodle bar than the poker after seeing Damon and Norton eating.

Still have some mint uncirculated chips there

 

[TomC727]

I stayed at the Taj for a job interview in 2014 and it never dawned on me to pick up some chips. I played blackjack for a couple hours on the same trip at Trump Plaza, literally a couple days before it was supposed to close and never got chips. Definitely beating myself up over that.