Splash Casino (Tunica, Mississippi) chips
A collector wanted a barrel or more of Splash Casino chips rather than buying singles. The wanted thread names "Splash Casino Tunica Mississippi", which fits the venue below, but does not give the denomination or maker, so the specifics here come from a catalogue entry rather than from the thread.1 The casino was short-lived, which is part of why collectors seek it.
In this guide
History of the casino
According to the Museum of Gaming History's ChipGuide, Splash was a riverboat casino that operated from 19 October 1992 to 24 May 1995. It opened at Mhoon Landing, described as the first casino in northern Mississippi, with a Tunica mailing address. It was so popular that patrons reportedly waited up to three hours to get in and paid a $10 admission fee.2 A forum poster in the wanted thread recalled it as the first and only casino where he had paid a cover charge just to get in.1
Mhoon Landing later hosted another operation: Wikipedia's history of Lady Luck Gaming says Lady Luck Rhythm & Blues in Lula, Mississippi, opened in June 1994 after relocating from Mhoon Landing. Whether the two casinos were connected is not established here.3
The chips
The ChipGuide lists 41 Splash items, including 14 table chips with denominations from $1 to $1,000, an anniversary limited-edition chip from 1993, four slot tokens, six players club cards and assorted memorabilia. It names Paulson and Chipco as the chip makers.2 The entry's own listing, not summarised here, gives the individual colours and moulds, so check those against the ChipGuide before buying.
Points a buyer should take from that:
- There are 14 table chips, not just singles in one denomination, so a "barrel" request should specify which denomination.
- Two makers are listed, Paulson and Chipco, so not all Splash chips will feel or look alike.
- A 1993 anniversary chip exists and is a limited edition, not a standard house chip.
- Operating life was under three years, so house-used stock is limited.
Verifying and buying
Compare the chip with the ChipGuide entry for Splash, including the denomination list and maker, and ask the seller for photographs of face, back and edge. Ask whether the barrel is a single denomination and whether the chips were used in play or are stock.
House chips, anniversary pieces and tokens need separate searches
The Splash catalog includes several kinds of collectible. First decide whether you need a table chip for a playing set, a commemorative for a display, or a token. A listing that simply says 'Splash Casino collectible' can refer to any of them.2
| Item sought | What to match |
|---|---|
| Standard table chip | Denomination, maker, face design and edge pattern |
| Anniversary chip | The event wording and corresponding catalog item |
| Slot token | Metal token design and printed denomination |
| Barrel for a cash set | Actual count, one issue or mixed issues, and condition |
Search Splash Casino Tunica Mississippi chips, Splash Casino Mhoon Landing poker chip and the exact denomination. Add Paulson or Chipco only when you are deliberately targeting one of the makers listed in the reference; it is useful to keep the constructions separate when assembling a playing set.
Does the short casino history establish rarity?
It establishes an operating period, not the number of a specific chip that survives. A price or availability claim needs evidence for that issue, condition and quantity. When a seller offers a barrel, request a group photograph and close-ups from the actual lot. A single sharp example cannot show that every chip has the same design or wear.
Sources and further reading
- Want more Splash Casino, Poker Chip Forum: wanted thread.
- Splash Casino, ChipGuide, Museum of Gaming History: venue and chip catalogue entry.
- Lady Luck Gaming, Wikipedia: Lady Luck Rhythm & Blues relocated from Mhoon Landing.