EPISODE 84 -Trading, Buying & Selling of Casino Memorabilla

Sheldon Smith

Sheldon and his wife, Christine (known collectively as “Team Smith”), have been collecting for more than 25 years! First, they just had random items that “walked away” from the casinos with them – because they just liked them or forgot they had them! But, in the last ten years or so, they have collected casino memorabilia in earnest! “Team Smith’s” primary collection is $1 Nevada chips. However, some say their house looks like a mini-museum! Before leaving Chicago for Las Vegas, they helped organize the Chicago-land Chippers!

Until his retirement and relocation, Sheldon ran a not-for-profit educational institution (TestWatch Research Institute Ltd.) and he has been known to say that “Chips are much easier to work with than students and their parents!” Sheldon and his wife became members a little over ten years ago and have been very active ever since! In addition to serving as Vice-President, Sheldon is also both the Publicity Director and Education Director for the CC&GTCC.

As Publicity Director, Sheldon significantly expanded the number of articles, placements and announcements regarding the Club and the Annual Convention in national magazines and newspapers, all of which he hopes has helped the Club gain more national attention. Recently, Sheldon was instrumental in arranging for TV’s “American Pickers” to visit club member Doug Deems in Kingman, AZ!

As the Education Director, Sheldon arranges for interesting topics and knowledgeable presenters for the Educational Seminars at the Club’s Annual Convention. These seminars provide additional reasons why collectors of casino memorabilia -- and those who love the history of gambling across the U.S. and around the world -- come to the CC&GTCC Convention.

Sheldon has also brought PAYPAL to the Club. This provides an easier method of collecting dues and processing purchases from and for the club. He was also able to bring the CC&GTCC to eBay! Through eBay, the CC&GTCC now has access to the world’s largest online marketplace – and it to us! Under eBay rules, our Club is “not-for-profit,” which allows members to donate items for sale and now receive a tax donation letter.

Sheldon and Christine have 5.5 grandchildren and more are expected within the year! Their blended family has 2 sons, 1 daughter, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 ex-daughter-in-law, 2 brothers, 2 sisters-in-law, 2 nieces, 2 nephews and assorted cousins, aunts, uncles, friends and pets – all of whom (except the pets!) are expected to be on the look-out for casino memorabilia, chips from wherever they all travel, and anything that is even remotely related to gaming, gambling, or games of chance! One of Sheldon’s Chicago friends affectionately dubs himself, “Sheldon’s chip-mule” because of all the chips he brings back from his many cruises!