Let's try this again - sorry about the blank message.

Rick. There are 3 slot card collector organizations - 2 are Newsletters subscribers only and 1 is a membership organization. Check on this bulletin board for postings by Pat Lamb - she publishes the monthly neswletter called PACK (People After Cards and Keys). Pat lives in Colorado. The other newsletter is MSOCK (Mystic Society of Cards and Keys) and is published by Don Phillips in Mississippi. The national CC>CC (Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club) has just established a Slot Card/Room Key Chapter - Membership is $5 year but you must belong to the national organization also ($20 or $25). Look for postings on this site by Jim Munding or Dave Johnston to join.

Pat Lamb & Steve Wells (he's from Vegas) have published 3 slot card price guides and will hopefully soon be starting to work on their 4th edition. This is a wonderful publication and you can see how your collection compares to all the thousands of cards out there. You'll be amazed at how many cards are out there. Pat Lamb has probably 5000 in her collection; I personally have about 2000.

Different people collect different things - yes, some only collect them with their own name on them and/or blank ones. Most of us collect any and all cards. The better the condition they're in the better (in my opinion) but sometimes you take the more scratched ones in hopes of bettering it someday. Some of us collect the different variations such as print styles (printed vs. embossed name/account #), color of printing of the name (gold, silver, white, etc.), with computer punchcard reader holes (older style), magnetic strip width. If there's a true variation in the card made by the manufacturer, the price guide notes this and it's considered another issue of the card.

Some of us collect the Harrah's cards - different styles from the different Harrah's locations. I'm one that has gone overboard and am trying to get the different backs for each of the Harrah's styles and locations - probably an impossible feat, but it's fun nevertheless. At the top of the sign-on page of this website is a link to the webmaster's Harrah's collection - a wonderful table that lists all the Harrah's varieties and locations.

So, bottom line, I'd suggest you contact Pat Lamb and send her $10 for her newsletter and look into joining the SC/RK chapter. Don Phillips doesn't have a computer so he doesn't post on this bulletin board. If you want his address and information, email me and I'll be glad to give it to you (his newsletter is also $10).

Plus there are casino memorabilia/collector shows around the country at various times of the year that you may want to check out ones in your area. Also, at the top of this website is a link that gives a listing of casinos that let you sign up for their slot card on-line and they'll mail it to you. Fun, fun, fun.

You can also spend a lot of time looking at slot card and room key sales on ebay.

I must warn you, this hobby is adictive.

I hope you'll consider joining us regularly on this website and ebay, as well as subscribe to the newsletters and/or join the SC/RK chapter.

Good luck !!!

Esther