The '49 Camp, recreating a 1849 gold rush town, was one of the attractions at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. These chips were sold to guests to play gambling games of the era (roulette, faro, wheel of fortune, draw poker). Thousands flocked to the games, due to the fact that winners were paid in cash and not script. Because it violated anti-gambling laws, it was shut down by authorities.
May have also been used at 3305 E. 14th St., Oakland CA (1931-1946), although that attribution is questioned by the Staeffler Guide, and others. |