One of the earliest styles in the world of casino chips was called die-cut.
The die-cut is seen in casino chips from the 1940s and 1950s. Gambling was legalized in the state of Nevada in 1931. These chips are some of the earliest legalized gaming chips.
According to David Spragg, who is one of the authors of the chip collector price guide The Chip Rack, he stated the following about die-cut chips in a post on Poker Chip Forum in 2017:
"Apparently, back in the day (and we are talking 1946-1952) the metal inlays had to be made by a company in England and cost a fortune."
Some of the casinos that used die-cut chips included the early era of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, when famous mobster Benjamin "Bugsey" Siegel opened the resort in 1946. The uncanceled $5 is one of the most famous and sought after chips. We have one for sale you can find below.
Another Las Vegas Strip property that used them included the El Rancho Vegas Hotel and Casino . The famed resort was open from 1941 to 1960. You can find a couple of El Rancho die-cut chips below for sale. The casino had 70 slot machines, two blackjack tables, one roulette table and a craps table.
Other casinos that had die-cut chips included Tahoe Village in Lake Tahoe. The resort was opened from 1946 to 1951. An advertisement for the property stated the resort offered a variety of activities including saddle horses, tennis courts, winter sports and a private beach. The resort's culinary staff were from the racquet club in Palm Springs, California.
Some other casinos that had die-cut chips were Mapes, Kentucky Club and Colonial Inn.
One final historical thought, the die-cut chips began after the end of World War II when America's optimism for the future was at an all time high.
Below you can find some die-cut casino chips for sale from the Flamingo, El Cortez, Tahoe Village and other casinos.
You can purchase each chip by clicking the picture:
El Rancho $5 1947: $249 El Rancho $25 1947: $249
Flamingo $5 1946: $2999 Flamingo $5 1947: $999
Tahoe Village $100 1946: $999 Tahoe Village Blue Roulette 1946: $124
Tahoe Village Pink Roulette 1946: $74 - Tahoe Roulette Chip 1946: $74
Tahoe Village Brown Roulette 1946: $74 - Mapes Hotel $5 Chip 1948: $8
