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PLAYBOY CHEQUES, CHIPS and TOKENS by Tom Stroh

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PLAYBOY CHEQUES, CHIPS and TOKENS by Tom Stroh PLAYBOY CHEQUES, CHIPS AND TOKENS by Tom Stroh Here, passing the 50th anniversary tery. Published information about of Playboy Magazine, the Playboy Playboy’s Casinos and the gaming Casino issues continue to be a chal- pieces used was practically non-exis- lenging series to collect. Where else tant. can you find, under one name, the variety that the Playboy issues pro- First, to make things easy, from vide? There are Jetons, plaques, here on cheques, chips and tokens tokens, cheques, and currency with at will be grouped into one phrase, least eight different mold patterns and cheques, unless further discrimination in three different currencies originat- is called for. The difference between ing from nine different casinos. Many the three is, a cheque is a clay or plas- In the 1970’s, as Playboy of chip types used haven’t even sur- tic chip with a denomination or value Magazine matured and encountered faced in collections yet. This is a written on it, the chip has no denomi- competition, profits dropped, at the still-evolving area of chip collecting. nation. A plaque is a rectangular, high same time gaming profits from the Now, in addition to the chips used by denomination cheque and a token is a London casino kept rising, making Playboy at their casinos there are lim- metallic coin substitute. future expansion into gaming very ited edition issues by the Hard Rock attractive. In the spring of 1972 the Café and the Palms Casino commem- Playboy’s first casino was actually Clermont Club in Berkely Square, orating Playboy Magazine and some a Playboy Club and Casino, opened in famous for it's high rollers and of their accomplishments. London on June 29, 1966. It was a celebrity clientele, was purchased. new, five-story building located at 45 Also added to the organization in You can’t walk into a store and Park Lane, overlooking Hyde Park. 1972 was Stocks House, a 42 room purchase a complete set of Playboy Managed by Victor A. Lownes, a con- Georgian Mansion located outside cheques mounted in an attractive dis- fidant of Hugh Hefners, and boasting Aldbury in Hertfordshire that was play holder. Many of these cheques 27 tables offering Blackjack, used for training new bunny croupiers are very rare, as in one or two known Baccarat, and Roulette. Gambling was (as well as Victor Lownes residence). examples. If you want to collect the provided on four floors, as well as 1973 saw the addition of the older Playboy cheques you’re going rooms, restaurants, and a disco. It Manchester and Portsmouth Casino to have to do a little work. was a moneymaker from the start and Clubs. In 1978 the new Bahamas When I started researching my book remained a golden goose until closing Playboy Casino, located in the on Playboy it was amazing how in 1982. many misconceptions and half truths there were about Playboy chips and casinos. Understandably so, informa- tion on the casinos and chips was scarce at best. In spite of having one of the world’s best-known trade- marks, details of the Playboy Casinos have been, for the most part, a mys- Ambassador Beach Hotel in Nassau, was added. Playboy celebrated their CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | April · May · June 2004 49 25th successful year in 1979 during York State Liquor Board 20 years ear- found at various prices. We may which, in Britain, the Victoria lier to secure a liquor license for the never know all the varieties of Sporting Club was acquired. In addi- New York Playboy Club tipped the cheques produced over the fifteen tion, work was started on the future scale. The New Jersey Casino Control years the casinos were in operation. Atlantic City Casino building. Bunny Commission would not renew Cheques as high as £100,000 were croupiers even set out to sea. In 1971- Playboy's temporary license to oper- used by the high rollers attracted to 72 Playboy operated the casinos ate a casino in Atlantic City with the London Playboy Casinos. aboard the Caribbean cruise ship, Hefner in charge. Cheques and tokens from the short- R.H.M.S. Atlantis. lived Manchester, Portsmouth and All Playboy properties in the UK Victoria Sports Club Casinos are 1980 was a banner year for were sold in November 1981 to rarely seen. Playboy's Gaming Organization. $31 Trident Television. The new Atlantic million of the $32 million in profit City Casino continued to operate until reported by Playboy Enterprises that April 1984 while appealing the year was from gaming. Unfortunately, license decision. The Nassau Club it was their last. With the gaming and Casino was closed in August license approval for the Victoria 1983, never having been a big money Sporting Club in February 1981, maker. Playboy Enterprises, Inc. Playboy Enterprises became the reported a 1982 loss of more than $51 largest, and, table for table, one of the million. The next couple of years The Rhodes, Greece Playboy most profitable gaming operators in would see the sale of the Playboy Casino and Beach Hotel opened the the UK. They had three London casi- Clubs and Hotels, the DC-9 "Bunny second week of March 1999. This is nos, two provincial casinos, interests Jet" and the sale of publishing and Playboy Enterprises’ re-entry into in two others, 72 off track betting par- recording assets in an effort to regain gaming since the closures of 1982. lors, and six bingo parlors. In these profitability. Playboy and a local consortium of casinos they attracted some of the major local companies were awarded highest of the high rollers and soci- Cheques and tokens of lower a 12-year exclusive casino license on eties’ upper crust. denominations from the Atlantic City the Greek Island of Rhodes, a popular Casino are relatively common and Mediterranean tourist destination. The British had always been well documented. The Bahamas Before opening Playboy Enterprises uneasy with a foreign controlled casi- cheques and tokens are similar in sold their equity share and entered no operating in London. Due to a style and denomination with the into an agreement to license the casi- number of administrative snafus, the Atlantic City series. Both use a Bud no to use their name. firing of Victor Lownes and the fol- Jones Co. nickel-silver inlay sur- lowing appointment of Chicago man- rounded by the colored collar with The casino, located on two floors agement, combined with some mud- Playboy rabbit head logos and various in the hotel “Grande Albergo Delle slinging in London referred to as the inserts. The lowest denominations, Rose” had 300 slot machines and 30 "Casino Wars", Playboy lost their like the Bahamas 50 cent and the table games. It closed in the Spring of operating license in Britain training school cheques are hot 2000. stamped. The lower denomination The timing couldn't have been Bahamas pieces are also reasonably Sadly, this was probably the last worse, it was April 1981 and, available. attempt by Playboy to establish a in partnership with Elsinore casino under their name. Their Corporation, they had just Playboy Casino Cheques used emphasis has now shifted to internet opened the new, $135 in the UK were of the classic gaming and electronic entertainment. million Atlantic City compression style as well as Casino. The repercussions the European jeton and The most recent activity using the from London reached the plaques. A few common pieces famous Bunny trademark are limited New Jersey shores in no time. from the London (Park Lane) edition issues produced by the Hard The problems found in Britain along Casino and the London Training Rock Café and the Palms Casino. with a reported bribe paid to the New School, or Stocks House, also can be 50 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | April · May · June 2004.
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