"an exclusive right to buy a whole release there would have to be some consideration for the casino signing a contract granting exclusivity. Would that not constitute a sale for over face of the chips?"

Not if they sold the release to the slabbing company for the face value of the chips. The casino would still make the same amount of money on the chips as they do now.

What could be the advantage to doing this by a casino? A guaranteed sale of the entire release is one. Letting someone who works at the casino buy some of the highest graded chips from the slabber at cost, or just giving them to them, is another.

The FQ was asked by a guy to put his name and face on a $25 casino chip along with the title "King of Blackjack" if I remember right. They agreed to do so if he agreed to buy the entire release of 100 chips. They were made, and as far as I know, Gaming approved them, and the guy bought the entire release. A few of these did make it into the hands of collectors, probably given as gifts to the people that made it possible.

Bob