Hi Bob -----

>... what every casino that I've walked into that'll get you tossed out of ...<

As mentioned, I don't play roulette. Are you saying that EVERY casino has a policy that if you remove roulette chips from the table, you are subject to being thrown out? And is that true regardless of the buy in (e.g., if you take them from the most expensive table in the house, is that still against their rules)?

>... and if you get caught with a stack might find your butt in a felony charge (fraud by introducing the stack into another game at a higher value) ...<

I don't think anyone disagrees that trying to introduce a roulette chip removed from one table into a game at another table with higher per chip stakes is criminal (and a bad idea, too). Nor have I seen anything which even remotely suggests that anyone expressing an opinion on this subject thinks that would be OK.

>I need the casino's approval to remove a chip.<

If by that, you mean you think you need specific permission from the owner of the casino before you can take a chip out of the building, I think that's probably true of only a small minority of casinos (those which post signs so stating). If you mean "approval" of any employee of the casino, what you said has little or no meaning. Employees generally do not have authority to give away (or sell) property belonging to their employers. If it is casino policy that it is theft to remove a roulette chip, then an employee who gives "approval" for removal of such a chip is simply serving as an accomplice to the theft (which in California makes him equally culpable with the thief).

Fantasy Transcript of trial testimony, People of the State of Casino v. Roulette Collector:

Q (by the prosecutor): It's true, is it not, Mr. Casino Manager, that the defendant here, Mr. Collector, took one of your roulette chips out of the casino?
A (by Casino Manager): Yes, that's true.
Q: Before taking this chip out of the casino, did the defendant give the casino anyththing of value for it?
A: Yes, he gave us $5 to rent the color of the chip.
Q: After the defendant took the chip out of the casino, what did you do?
A: I had to buy a replacement for the chip.
Q: How much did that cost?
A: $1.25.
Q: What happened to the rest of the $5?
A: Well, actually, I bought two new chips for $2.50 and put the other $2.50 into the casino's bank account.
...
Q (on cross-examination by defense counsel): So, Mr. Manager, if I understand things correctly, the defendant gave your casino $5 for the chip he took.
A: Correct.
Q: After all was said and done, the casino had TWO chips instead of one, plus an extra $2.50?
A: Yes, that's correct, too.
Q: And this is a bad thing?
(By the prosecutor): Objection, Your Honor, argumentative.
(The court): Sustained. I'll have no sarcasm in my courtroom, counsel.
(Defense Counsel): Of course, Your Honor. I apologize.
Q: Why did you buy two chips instead of just one replacement?
A: I wanted to have an extra around, just in case another collector came along who was dumb enough to pay four times what the chip is worth to take it out of the casino.
...