“As gaming opportunities have expanded, Chipco has participated in this growth”

How has poker evolved during recent years?
Our company had a significant increase in our poker chip business when the various Poker Tournaments went onto LIVE TV. Because CHIPCO can print words right on the edge of the stacks of chips we could promote the specific casino location or the actual sponsor of the event. The World Series of Poker, Foxwoods, Caesars Palace as well as the foreign qualifying tournaments used this special CHIPCO feature to promote their event and sponsor. Whenever the TV cameras panned down to show how much the player had bet, viewers could read the casino and sponsors name right on the side of the stack of chips.

How has online poker influence in traditional poker? Do you think that online gaming has given a boost to traditional poker and that it has contributed with more players for live tournaments?
Online poker has been a huge boost to gaming interest globally. In the next 18 months I believe you will see online gaming become legal in several states here. The biggest issue has always been how do we tax this activity and how do we make sure it does not cannibalize traditional casino revenues. Now that the traditional casinos have set-up their own online gaming venues I think they understand that any expansion of gaming interest and participation will add to the universe of players this form of entertainment attracts. Growth is good for all participants and the proper oversight and procedures are getting in place so I believe this is a win-win-win event.

What markets are your main targets?
CHIPCO sells our chips globally and has for the last 25 years. As gaming opportunities have expanded CHIPCO has participated in this growth. Today about 70 % of our sales come from North America and 30% offshore.

What distributors are you working with?
Generally we sell direct to the casino operators in North America but do use distributors in other parts of the world. Phoenix Gaming covers Asia and Australia for us with their sales offices in Sydney, Australia and Macau, China. EuroCoin and TCS John Huxley cover Europe and Africa for us and we have several regional distributors that work in the Caribbean and parts of Mexico and South America today.

What can you tell us about the latest sales you have closed? Which casinos are your main customers?
CHIPCO has recently supplied a full rack of chips to the Atlantic City Hilton (approx: 400,000 units) and we are finishing a full rack for Artichoke Joe’s cardroom in California today (approx: 400,000 chips). We produce re-orders on a regular basis and create “Special Event” Commemorative chip images for all our customers on Anniversaries, Grand Openings, Special Entertainment shows or a re-theme message for the property.

What are your plans for the coming months?
CHIPCO attends the industry tradeshows either as an exhibitor or an attendee if our distributors have displays present. CHIPCO continues to make investments in technology that hopefully will lead to better decisions for the casino operators and a better entertainment experience for the players. If technology cannot do one or the other why make the investment? We anticipate the release of some new products in 2013 that hopefully will reduce the costs of table game operations while still preserving the operator controls and expand the player experience at the tables.