I found a 1979 $1 token from MGM Las Vegas

[Dan Druff]

Of course, 1979 MGM Las Vegas is actually present day Bally's.

If you recall, there was a fire there in 1980, which killed 80 people. It spurred a massive worldwide change in hotel safety. I stayed in the MGM in the early 80s, and it was the safest place in town at that point. They even had a TV channel dedicated to fire safety.

These tokens were an integral part of old Vegas. You couldn't walk through a casino without hearing machines ringing and the clanging of tokens falling. While slots are now far more advanced and resemble video games in some ways, I still think they don't have the allure of the old slots with the money clanging down.

These were, of course, replaced by the current "ticket" system. While far more convenient and easy to manage, there was something satisfying about scooping up tons of those tokens, putting them in a bucket, and taking them to the cashier.

Sorry for the sideways pic.

[MisterV]

The casinos now have their slots generate an endless blizzard of beeps, clangs and other loud, attention grabbing tones to make up for the old-school clanging of coins into the hopper; hell, when you cash out they even have fake sounds of coins dropping to accompany it.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[coach belly]

If you recall, there was a fire there in 1980...I stayed in the MGM in the early 80s

Do you recall that fire? How old were you in 1980?

[Alan Mendelson]

Unfortunately it probably has no value. It was probably "demonetized" years ago and since it's in used condition it's unlikely any serious collector would want it. You could do an eBay search for similar pieces.

Several years ago I put away a $1 token and a $5 token from Caesars. I gave them to another forum member to use as card protectors for poker. Caesars demonetized them years ago, so I called the head finance guy at Caesars and asked if I could buy the old tokens for use in home poker games. He told me they were recycled -- melted -- and they're probably some rebar now in building or bridge.

[mickeycrimm]

Unfortunately it probably has no value. It was probably "demonetized" years ago and since it's in used condition it's unlikely any serious collector would want it. You could do an eBay search for similar pieces.

Several years ago I put away a $1 token and a $5 token from Caesars. I gave them to another forum member to use as card protectors for poker. Caesars demonetized them years ago, so I called the head finance guy at Caesars and asked if I could buy the old tokens for use in home poker games. He told me they were recycled -- melted -- and they're probably some rebar now in building or bridge.

It will take you all of an hour to tire of using slot tokens in a poker game.

[Dan Druff]

If you recall, there was a fire there in 1980...I stayed in the MGM in the early 80s

Do you recall that fire? How old were you in 1980?

I knew someone would ask this, given that I stated that I "stayed in the MGM in the early 80s", yet most don't believe I was old enough to be taking Vegas trips then.

Well, I have a confession. I've been masquerading as being in my 40s, but in reality, I am 62 years old. I just am fortunate that I look very young for my age.

That's also why I've had some health problems recently.






Just kidding.

I was 8 back then. Yes, I remember the fire. My parents showed me the newspaper with the picture of the burnt slot machines.

When we stayed there the subsequent year, in order to calm my concerns about staying in a place where people just died the year before, my parents told me that the made the hotel especially safe because of what happened. I actually believed them and wasn't scared anymore. I found the "fire safety" channel on the TV, and kept watching it over and over again... not because I was scared, but just because it was something to do when bored in the room. Even at age 9, I was fascinated that an entire television channel (albeit an in-house one) was dedicated to just fire safety.

I actually was very fascinated by Vegas in general as a kid, and couldn't wait to turn 21 so I could really gamble. I did play a little video poker at age 15 (by playing machines facing the wall, where my face couldn't be seen), and also placed a few sportsbets, where oddly no one questioned my age (but I was smart enough to give the winning tickets to my dad to cash). While I was the height of an adult at age 15 (probably about 5'8"-5'9"), my face looked 15. There was no way I was passing for 21. This was all for small money, by the way. Something like $10 sportsbets and maybe I'd put $20 into the VP machine, and if I lost it, I'd be done.

[Dan Druff]

Unfortunately it probably has no value. It was probably "demonetized" years ago and since it's in used condition it's unlikely any serious collector would want it. You could do an eBay search for similar pieces.

Several years ago I put away a $1 token and a $5 token from Caesars. I gave them to another forum member to use as card protectors for poker. Caesars demonetized them years ago, so I called the head finance guy at Caesars and asked if I could buy the old tokens for use in home poker games. He told me they were recycled -- melted -- and they're probably some rebar now in building or bridge.

I'm not looking for money for it. I agree it's probably not worth much. I'm just going to keep it as my own old Vegas souvenir.

I just thought it was cool that I found this. It was saved in my parents' house since 1979, and even they didn't realize it was there. It was originally mine back then, from what I remember.

[Alan Mendelson]

Mickeycrimm do you know what a card protector is? People use all kinds of metal coins including Silver Dollars. You don't get "tired" of using them.

[mickeycrimm]

Mickeycrimm do you know what a card protector is? People use all kinds of metal coins including Silver Dollars. You don't get "tired" of using them.

Yes. I just use a poker chip.

You said you wanted tokens to use in home poker games. I spent a good bit of time in Ely, Nevada in 2006 on a video poker play at the Hotel Nevada. They had a poker game on Friday nights but didn't have any dollar chips. They used slot tokens. The tokens are much heavier than chips and slide around in your hand, much more difficult to handle. And have you ever watched a poker dealer try to push a pot with dollar tokens in it? It was a pain in the ass.