I don't really know but I wonder if the whole ownership question is the same as with say your credit cards etc. The issuer declares that they own the cards, or in this case chips and tokens, so that in the event that you get caught obusing the chips or are suspected of obtaining or using them fraudulantly they can just get them back on demand. This allows a credit card company, for existance, to have someone confiscate your card if say you are over extended. Or a bank to retain your ATM card if you have overdrawn. They were never your property in the first place. I would hope though that there are good precidences on the books to protect gamblers from a casino pulling that on them while they might be winning big. Perhaps a casino would have to have some evidence of abuse or fraud to claim that ownership right. Also, I do recall hearing something once about a situation where a casino, Binions perhaps(?), had to contact one of their high rollers and demand the return of some high denomination chips. Seems they had a high roller arrive but didn't have any $5,000 chips. They called this other guy and, POLITELY, demanded that he return some of their chips. Seems this person had a couple mil in $5,000 chips in his safety deposit box. I don't remember what the explaination was that someone would keep chips like that rather than cashing out. Could it be Tax reasons in that you don't have to declare the money till you cash out. If you are a big frequent player it may make sense to keep chips and to control your wins and losses.