At around $1,500 for a blackjack table and $4,000 for roulette (excluding the wheel, which can run another $5,000-$6,000), the cost of gaming tables represents a significant investment for a casino. The tables themselves are made of solid wood and have a long life; it’s the table layouts (the proverbial green felt) that get the wear and tear, and these are what the casinos have to replace on a regular basis (generally every 60–150 days). Originally, all layouts were made of felt, but felt is susceptible to burns and wear, so now many casinos opt for synthetic alternatives, which are cheaper, more durable, and can be produced in a greater range of colors.
Unfortunately, although layouts are changed regularly –- either as a result of damage or because the casino just wants a different look -- the old layouts tend to be snapped up as souvenirs by the dealers who work the joint (and get first dibs) and they don’t often make it onto the open market. You'll occasionally find an old layout being offered for sale in the Las Vegas newspaper classifieds – check out "Gaming Supplies" (Section 1050) under "General Merchandise" in the weekend Classified section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and you might just get lucky. Once the layout is secured, you can buy a blackjack table from any home-gaming-supplies vendor (of which there are many; hunt around online for the best deals) and fit the casino layout to it. Be aware that not all chip trays are the same size: make sure of the exact dimensions of your layout before you buy the table to ensure a good fit.
If a casino goes into liquidation, there are sometimes auctions to sell off the gaming equipment, and these are usually open to the public. But in general the fixtures and fittings tend to be bought up wholesale by other casinos or by companies who deal in reconditioning tables for the industry market (rather than selling to individuals).
All that said, if you really hunt around on the Internet, you can find the odd specialist vendor who has his hands on a genuine used casino table, but it'll cost you. For example, we found a blackjack table from Treasure Island offered for $1,597; tables from the Hard Rock’s high-roller Peacock Lounge and from the Mirage, both priced at $1,797; and a crap table with a new Bally’s layout for $5,895 (plus $599 shipping). It was unclear whether these tables had actually been in the casinos, or if they just had authentic layouts.
If you’re after genuine used casino memorabilia, but don’t want to pay these kinds of prices, there are some cheaper options: You can pick up an old slot or video poker machine for $1,000, give or take. (There are many online vendors –- just check first with your local authorities to be sure that it’s legal to own one in your state.) Or how about some used casino poker chips ($3 and up); a pair of dice (around $2-$5); or a deck of authentic "canceled" casino playing cards, available from any casino gift shop for a buck or two (and often at neighborhood gas stations for even less)?
