The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 2, January 11, 2004, Article 9

RADIO ID TAGS FOR CASINO CHIPS AND PAPER MONEY

  A recent report in The New Scientist said: "If the gambling
  industry reaps the benefits of electronically tagging its chips,
  the world's central banks could follow with their banknotes."

  A gambling industry publication got the story all bollixed up
  when it reported: "In a new research report published by the
  New Scientist, casino chips which have embedded radio
  frequency identification tags (RFID) could eventually replace
  traditional paper currency or bank notes and cut down fraud."

  Plenty of currency substitutes have found their way into
  general circulation over the years, but casino chips aren't likely
  to appear any time soon.  The gist of the report is that the
  SAME TECHNOLOGY (i.e. radio frequency ID tags) that
  could soon see use in casino chips might also one day be used
  in paper currency.  Later in the article the reporter seemed to
  figure this out.  The article correctly notes that "casinos and
  companies are expected to face opposition from privacy
  advocates and customers who don't want to be tracked for
  everything they buy or do."
  http://www.onlinecasinonews.com/ocnv2_1/article/article.asp?id=4614

  Another article in the U.K.'s Independent  gave a balanced
  treatment to the subject in its 8 January issue:

  "Technology that has been used to monitor the shopping habits
  of supermarket customers is about to be introduced to casinos.

  An American company is making playing chips that will beam
  an identification code to sensors in gaming houses. Although
  they will be more expensive than other chips, they should
  allow casino owners to reduce counterfeiting and theft and to
  monitor gamblers more closely. Known as "RFID", Radio
  Frequency Identification, the technology has already been used
  in the UK by supermarkets, including Tesco and Marks &
  Spencer, for tracking items such as razor blades and men's
  suits from the warehouse to the store."

  "The new generation of chips is being made by Chipco
  International in Raymond, Maine. The RFID system adds
  about 20p to the price of each chip. But that cost could pale
  in comparison with the potential savings ..."

  "The tagged chips could also be a forerunner of new banknotes
  being considered by the European Central Bank, which wants
  to use RFID technology for high-denomination notes to reduce
  counterfeiting."

  For the complete article, see:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=479058

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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