A couple weeks ago I was away on business at Rock Island Arsenal. This allowed me top attend the show in Battle Creek. At the show I purchased chips, tokens, room keys, slot cards, gift cards, and match covers. Whenever I attended the convention in Las Vegas I took all my purchases with me through security and never had a problem. This time because I was away for business I could not carry everything with me so I placed some of the items in my checked baggage. I flew home via Moline, IL. Moline has a very small airport so passengers actually take their luggage to TSA to be x-rayed.

My first bag when through the machine without a problem. The bag with my casino items was opened. The TSA employee seemed to be in that bag forever. At first I though the problem was the match covers. I purchased alot of them and though that although they were empty, the machine detected a flammable residue. I could no longer take the suspense so I asked TSA what was the problem.

Their concern was not with the match covers but the room keys, slot cards and gift cards. They wanted to know why I had so many different room keys and slot cards which did not have my name on them. How did I get them and what was I going to do with them. I explained to them that I collect them. They believed me on those items. Than the issue came up about the gift cards. They are on the look out for individuals who are trying to hide money. I told them no money are on those cards, I collect them and if they look at the designs they could tell they are collectable item. They finally belived me.

On any future trips I will never put any on my casino items in my checked baggage.