The great "Casino Chip Lead Scare" of 2007
History:
In early November, 2007, the local ABC television station KNXV in Phoenix ran a news story in which they tested the lead content of some old Paulson real casino table chips. All the chips they tested were issued prior to 1998. An independent lab hired by the TV station found that the old chips contained 470,000 ppm of lead -- a lead content of 47 percent.
This prompted the Arizona Department of Health to issue a warning to casino dealers about routine handling of the chips. Here is a copy of the warning letter:
This prompted the Arizona Department of Health to issue a warning to casino dealers about routine handling of the chips. Here is a copy of the warning letter:
Division of Public Health Services News Release
Office of the Assistant Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 8, 2007
Public Information Office Information: (602) 542-1094
150 N. 18 th Ave. JANET NAPOLITANO, GOVERNOR
Phoenix, Arizona 850072670
SUSAN GERARD, DIRECTOR
State Health Department Issues Alert About Poker Chips
The Arizona Department of Health Services today issued an alert regarding poker chips that may contain dangerous levels of lead.
Responding to a story aired on a local television station, KNXVTV, the Department said casino workers, their families and children are particularly vulnerable.“We are bringing this to your attention because of the potential exposure to the most vulnerable population, the children of families that currently have this product in their homes,” Diane Eckles, head of the Department’s Office of Environmental Health, said in a letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission..
“There is also a potential for the dealers to expose their families, specifically children, to this lead hazard. In addition, participants in the gaming activity are being exposed through the handling of the chips,” Eckles wrote. The alert follows independent lab testing commissioned by the station showed the Paulson brand
chips may contain excessive levels of lead, as much as 45 percent in some cases. In addition, flakes from the chips, when dropped, also showed high levels of lead contamination. The Arizona Department of Health Services also is conducting its own testing of the chips. The state health department also raised concerns in letters to the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety & Health, and the Arizona Department of Gaming. For more information, please visit the Department’s lead poisoning program at http://azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/invsurv/lead/ or call 6023643118.
GPI's response:
In response, the president of Gaming Partners International's US operations issued the following letter to the company's customers:
"Gaming Partners International USA, Inc. (“GPI USA”) has long been proud of our position as leaders in the casino currency industry. Additionally, we are ever mindful of our responsibilities to our employees, you as our customers, and the general public. I am writing you today to provide you with the latest information that is known and verified with respect to lead content in the Paulson® chips.
By way of background, in September 2002, Paul-Son Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Paul-Son Gaming Supplies, Inc., was acquired through a reverse acquisition. In 2004, Paul-Son Gaming Corporation became Gaming Partners International Corporation and its U.S. subsidiary Paul-Son Gaming Supplies, Inc. became GPI USA. The Paulson chips, often referred to as “clay chips”, have been manufactured since 1968 and have been widely distributed mainly in the U.S. ever since.
Until 1998, these clay chips all contained approximately 47% (that is 470,000 Parts Per Million, or “PPM”) of lead in order to give them the weight that dealers and players were used to. Since 1998, the Paulson chip has had significant reductions in its lead content resulting in chips sold between January 1998 and November 2006 having a lead content of a few thousand PPM to a maximum of 6,500 PPM (0.65% in weight) for most of the approximately 70 colors of the available palette with the exception of 6 colors for which no acceptable formulation had been found until the second part of 2006.
Since November 2006, none of the chips manufactured have had lead levels that exceeded 6,500 PPM (0.65% in weight). Directly as a result of our continuous reformulation processes, we are pleased to report that all Paulson chips manufactured since October of this year have a lead content of less than 50 PPM (0.005% in weight).
We fully recognize that the recent publicity has raised awareness of this issue and we regret that a more accurate portrayal of any potential risks was not included in the broadcast. In the past, we have researched the issue regarding the amounts of lead used in recent production of gaming chips and with the coverings on the chips and the normal usage of the chips, there is no case reported of absorbing lead through the hands or fingers. Nonetheless, it is our intent to continue to refine our formulations and further eliminate this metal from our chips.
As rapidly as possible, we will provide a personalized analysis of each of your orders so that you will be able to view the measurements for yourself. We are confident that you will find that the reformulated chips pose no significant or elevated risk to either your employees or patrons.
If there are any specific questions you have, rest assured that we will be responsive and provide you with whatever information necessary to maintain your confidence in our products and our reputation.
Sincerely yours, Gerard P. Charlier
President and Chief Executive Officer
"Gaming Partners International USA, Inc. (“GPI USA”) has long been proud of our position as leaders in the casino currency industry. Additionally, we are ever mindful of our responsibilities to our employees, you as our customers, and the general public. I am writing you today to provide you with the latest information that is known and verified with respect to lead content in the Paulson® chips.
By way of background, in September 2002, Paul-Son Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Paul-Son Gaming Supplies, Inc., was acquired through a reverse acquisition. In 2004, Paul-Son Gaming Corporation became Gaming Partners International Corporation and its U.S. subsidiary Paul-Son Gaming Supplies, Inc. became GPI USA. The Paulson chips, often referred to as “clay chips”, have been manufactured since 1968 and have been widely distributed mainly in the U.S. ever since.
Until 1998, these clay chips all contained approximately 47% (that is 470,000 Parts Per Million, or “PPM”) of lead in order to give them the weight that dealers and players were used to. Since 1998, the Paulson chip has had significant reductions in its lead content resulting in chips sold between January 1998 and November 2006 having a lead content of a few thousand PPM to a maximum of 6,500 PPM (0.65% in weight) for most of the approximately 70 colors of the available palette with the exception of 6 colors for which no acceptable formulation had been found until the second part of 2006.
Since November 2006, none of the chips manufactured have had lead levels that exceeded 6,500 PPM (0.65% in weight). Directly as a result of our continuous reformulation processes, we are pleased to report that all Paulson chips manufactured since October of this year have a lead content of less than 50 PPM (0.005% in weight).
We fully recognize that the recent publicity has raised awareness of this issue and we regret that a more accurate portrayal of any potential risks was not included in the broadcast. In the past, we have researched the issue regarding the amounts of lead used in recent production of gaming chips and with the coverings on the chips and the normal usage of the chips, there is no case reported of absorbing lead through the hands or fingers. Nonetheless, it is our intent to continue to refine our formulations and further eliminate this metal from our chips.
As rapidly as possible, we will provide a personalized analysis of each of your orders so that you will be able to view the measurements for yourself. We are confident that you will find that the reformulated chips pose no significant or elevated risk to either your employees or patrons.
If there are any specific questions you have, rest assured that we will be responsive and provide you with whatever information necessary to maintain your confidence in our products and our reputation.
Sincerely yours, Gerard P. Charlier
President and Chief Executive Officer
