I agree for the most part with everything that has been said in this thread but there are a few things I would like to point out.

I’m not ready to just roll over and play dead. I think we should become pro-active in a positive way, that is, tell the casinos and IGT what we would like. Don’t just complain but give them ideas and reasons to support your request.

Send a letter, facsimile or email to the casino management, send one to as many levels of management that you can find but be sure to send one to the Casino Manager and one to the Slot Manager. Sending the same correspondences to IGT may also be helpful. In your correspondence concerning the Four Queens request that they not limit any of the $200 strike to less than 250 (or whatever number you would like) and then tell them why it would be to their advantage to do what you’re requesting. Remember profit is the factor that drives most of the discussions in business and in a casino machine play is one of the main factors. Based on the play at the Palms and the Slots-A-Fun we know that a limit of 125 to 150 (of a new desirable design) sells out in just a few days/weeks. Looking at the current $200 at the Palms it looks like a limit of 250 will last about two months. The current $200 at the Slots-A-Fun shows us that if you bring out too many new $200s or new $200s which are not that desirable, play will slow way down.

In the case of the Four Queens releasing four $200s limited to 50 each means the machine is going to get frantic play through 80 hoppers (4 to 6 weeks) and then drop to near zero maybe two hoppers per week. If they increase the limit of $200s to 250 they will have decent to heavy play through 400 hoppers (6 to 8 months). Add it up: at a limit of 50 they will go through about 150 hoppers in 6-8 months and at a limit of 250 they will go through about 400 hoppers in 6-8 months. Over the period of 6-8 months the machine would get more play, almost double, when using a minimum of 250/300 as compared to using a minimum of 50. Now they could continue to bring out new ones but look at what is happening at the Slots-A-Fun.

All of this points out that if the number of $200s is limited to something of 250 or more both the casino and IGT will have increased profits. In the case of the four Queens you could point out how they are actually losing money because they went with such a limited number. I’m sure that IGT has the current statistics to tell the casinos what production quantity will result in the maximum profit for the casino. (If not shame on them because they should be able to do that) I think the number that maximizes the casino profit will also suit the collector best. As the numbers of $200 collectors grow that minimum production number may have to be increased to 400 or 600. I think that if a number of people contact the casino and IGT, IN WRITING, it will have an effect. Just talking to someone on the floor will not get it done.

Now, if all else fails we may have to take the same steps the chippers took and that is to complain to Gaming. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS STEP AT THIS TIME, NOT YET. We’re told that Gaming set the minimum number of chips at 500 because of complaints that only a few players were getting in on the original release and causing the prices to go sky high in the secondary market for the rest of the collectors. This is not the way to go. If we get gaming involved I think we’ll all lose. But, we may have to allude to that step and then be ready to do it if we cannot achieve success any other way

I would also like to see a positive input from the Silver Striker Chapter Board but they cannot do it alone, I believe it will take contact from many individuals in addition to the recommendations from the board.

I also agree that too many new $200s are coming out and not everyone (including me) can keep up with all of them but I do not want to limit other collectors just because I don’t want to or cannot get all of the new $200s. However, I would like to have a decent chance at getting the new ones I do want. If the casino wants to bring out a new $200 each week that is fine but produce enough of them so that most or all that want the new $200 can get one. Don’t worry the casino that brings out a new $200 a week will only do it for about four or five coins and then their program will slow down so much they can’t get rid of them. The demand for a new one per week is not there. The Slots-A-Fun proves my point.

The laws of supply and demand continue to be valid. That is as long as the demand is there and if supplying the demand is profitable, keep the supply going. If you over supply in quantity or numbers of new releases the demand will slow down causing profits to fall. Casino needs to find the middle road where supply and demand stay matched and I believe our input will have a vital role in finding that point.

Send in that correspondence. Start by sending something to the Four Queens.