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ChipGuide
ChipGuide - A Catalog of Casino Chips and Collectibles
Became: Regency Card Club and Casino, The
4901 Eastern Avenue
Bell, California
Type: Card Room
Status: Closed
Open: 1980, Close: 12/1989

Bell's first licensed card room opened with approximately 60 card tables, making it briefly the largest card room in California. Originally owned by Kevin P. Kirwan (with partners) and managed by Dick Bisbines. It was bought by Sam Torosian in 1985. The club declared bankruptcy in April 1989, and closed in December 1989. It became "The Regency" (see "Became").

Torosian is credited with inventing the game of Pai Gow Poker, which he introduced at the Bell in 1985. Following poor advice from an attorney, he decided not to patent the game. This likely contributed to the game's huge popularity, as any casino could offer it without paying a licensing fee.

Advertisement detail from a matchbook posted below. Photograph from 1/3/1985 (Los Angeles Times).

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Casino Money
Table Chips (13) [QuickView]
CG028473 Obsolete
Denom: 25¢
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: RED
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG028474 Obsolete
Denom: 50¢
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: ORANGE
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG029240 Obsolete
Denom: $1
Added: 2011-01-15
Last Update: 2011-01-15
Color: NAVY
Inserts: 3 Blue
Mold: H&C (LCV)
Contributed by: Luke Rapley
CG028475 Obsolete
Denom: $1
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: NAVY
Inserts: 3 Blue
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG199060 Obsolete
Denom: $1
Added: 2018-04-09
Color: Navy
Inserts: 3 Blue
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: J. Eric Freedner (R-8501)

Similar to CG 028475 but the band around the inlay graphics is golden or light brown on each side, not light green. Paulson, H&C mold.
CG029238 Obsolete
Denom: $2
Added: 2011-01-15
Last Update: 2011-01-15
Color: Green
Inserts: 3 Gray
Mold: H&C (LCV)
Contributed by: Luke Rapley
CG028476 Obsolete
Denom: $2
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: Green
Inserts: 3 Gray
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG028477 Obsolete
Denom: $5
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: Yellow
Inserts: 3 Red
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG028478 Obsolete
Denom: $10
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: MUSTARD
Inserts: 3 Green/Yellow
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG028479 Obsolete
Denom: $20
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: BLACK
Inserts: 3 Peach/Purple
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG028480 Obsolete
Denom: $25
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2019-09-23
Color: Gray
Inserts: 3 White/Purple
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
CG028481 Obsolete
Denom: $100
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-02-19
Color: White
Inserts: 3 Orange/Purple/Red
Mold: H&C (LCV)
Contributed by: Jim Colbert
CG031808 Obsolete
Denom: $100
Added: 2011-02-19
Last Update: 2011-02-19
Color: White
Inserts: 3 Orange/Purple/Red
Mold: H&C (LCV)
Contributed by: Jim Colbert

Paulsen Metal Center
No Cash Value Chips (4) [QuickView]
CG028483 Obsolete
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: LIME
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub

Tournament Chip
CG028484 Obsolete
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: ORANGE
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub

Tournament Chip
CG028485 Obsolete
Added: 2011-01-01
Last Update: 2011-01-01
Color: White
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub

Tournament Chip
CG029043 Obsolete
Added: 2011-01-12
Last Update: 2011-01-12
Color: LAVENDER
Mold: H&C (SCV)
Contributed by: Jim Colbert

Tournament Chip
Casino Collectibles
Ash Trays (1) [QuickView]
CG149834
Added: 2015-09-05
Color: Clear
Contributed by: Larry Eastman
Match Books (6) [QuickView]
CG071922
Added: 2023-12-12
Last Update: 2023-12-12
Color: Red
Mftr: Diamond Match Co
Contributed by: Barry "barrychip" Weintraub
Updated by: Eric Miller
CG310948
Added: 2023-12-12
Mftr: Diamond Match
Contributed by: Eric Miller
CG310949
Added: 2023-12-12
Mftr: Universal Match Corp Los Angeles
Contributed by: Eric Miller
CG310950
Added: 2023-12-12
Mftr: Universal Match Corp Los Angeles
Contributed by: Don Lueders
Updated by: Eric Miller

Variation: changed from "World's Largest Card Casino" as shown on CG310949 to "World's #1 Card Casino"
CG310951
Added: 2023-12-12
Mftr: Pageant Match
Contributed by: Eric Miller
CG310952
Added: 2023-12-12
Mftr: Universal Match Corp Los Angeles
Contributed by: Eric Miller
Total Items (24)

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