John,
You have made a most interesting observation that confirms what I have said before. I too have sat & talked to the tourist people who is playing the SS machines for many many hours during my trips to Las Vegas. As well as persons at flea markets, junk shops, garage sales, etc. that I have gone to in the past. It is interesting as to why they wanted to or not wanted to get rid of their strikes. As well as what they thought of them. There is 1 story that is interesting and sad about this. Maybe I will relate this story sometime in the newsletter.

I have said before that the strike machines need to stay at .25 cents and with a $10 strike. Because it's the tourist that ACTUALLY keeps the silver strike program in business. MOST (not all) of the club members gets together basely 2 times a year with a few going to Las Vegas from time to time & to play the strike machines at other times. While the tourist goes by the strike machines EVERYDAY and plays them EVERYDAY as you observed. They are not that interested wheather it is .999 silver, copper, wood, clad or what -- they like the looks. And want 1 or more for usually for someone else or as a keep sake for their trip. Sometimes they just play them for the money when they turn the strike in. But the SS machines do get played when the strike collectors are NOT THERE.

If the strike cost is raised to $20 & probally .50 cents just keep a few collectors happy. The tourist will stop playing the strike machines in large enough numbers so that the casinos will not be able to profit from them. Then the strike machines will be gone forever.

As a example look for a . 50 cent regular slot machine in Las Vegas. There are not very many left most everywhere and are a dieing breed of slot machine. A EVEN BETTER example is the $1.00 for a $40 silver strike machine --- why are they not on the casino floors any more?????????? Not enough play on them even at just $1.00 a pull --- mostly the collectors played them when in town and a FEW tourist in between. A lot of trouble for a little profit considering the time span involved to get rid of all the $40 strikes out of the SS machines.

I feel that the casinos know about what I have said above. So they are trying to keep the strikes where the collectors & especially the tourist will play them. The persons who stop getting the strikes because they are a clad strike. Is but a minor drop in the bucket in the -- over all -- strike program picture. Even for the "they think grand" amount of money they put through the SS machine.

The casinos & slot managers that still has SS machines REALLY want to work with & help the collectors. They DO NOT want to intentally cause a problem. However there are collectors who seem to not want to help the strike program & the casinos. They are mostly interested in their own interest.

READ--- the article in the just released July/Aug/Sept newsletter by our SS club president Ralph Fajardo titled -- "Members Attitude". What is said in this article IS NO FARCE and was NOT MADE UP. Silver Strike Club persons who is trying to work to help keep the silver strike program going. Is running into this " SS club members attutide" problem more & more. Hince the reason for the article in the newsletter.

I have seen some postings saying something like "the casino slot managers ought to post the information on" whatever is of interest at that time. If they do and something happens out of their control some of the club members blame & badger him about it. Maybe something is not spelled like some persons think it should be. Again it's the main topic on the strikepoint and again the slot manager is badgered about the spelling. If the strike theme is not to the liking of some club members a slot club manager is bad mouthed about this.
I am not making this up---just look back on past strike point postings.
I know if I was a slot manager I would not want to try to post something helpful only to most likely be bad mouthed & badgered about it. Would you????????

I will collect clad strikes---I consider clad strikes just another branch of silver strike casino novelity token collecting. Like brass strikes, colorized strikes, HSP, solid silver, gold plated, etc.

These are the FACTS above & MY opinion,
I see no need to answer here to the jabber of the "silver" collectors. So I will not.
Dan from Louisian