Considering that chips that are in play have been called obsolete on eBay, small wonder there is confusion.

One can site AC and never obsolete, since they can be redeemed for face value. Even though, most of us wouldn't want to do that. When they aren't in play and not available from the casino, it's obsolete.

Nevada has a regulation that states a casino can declare the chip obsolete and after 120 days, it's a piece of plastic with a nice design. That's a true obsolete.

However to throw one more wrench into the works, other states have different regulations. I'd say if you can find a chip drilled, notched or canceled, and the casino isn't cashing them in, that's obsolete anywhere.

Now how about Out Of Play? Since we don't know what the casino intends to do with an old issue, it may appear to be obsolete, but can return to the tables without notice.

A friend who collects Wisconsin found someone who would sell him some "obsolete" chips from a casino. He paid a premium price, made up an ad for the club Mag. These chips had been obsolete for at least two years. At the same time the ad appeared, the casino ordered new chips, and was running short. Guess what, they stocked some 21 tables with the old chips, until the new ones came. He got stuck, big time!

The whole point is, that unless they are drilled, canceled, deemed worthless by redemption notice, or otherwise, they are just "off the tables" and not in use.

Once again we don't know what might happen with old chips that haven't seen play in 10 years, they might re-apear.

Last example, Elko NV Stockmen's casino, the old metal center Paulson's came out of the vault when a new Corp. took over. Before that, there were some pretty ratty old chips on the tables. I was lucky and visitied during the short period when the metal centers were in play, ($5 and $25) before the new rack replaced them. Like new, obsolete chips!

Talk about dumb questions, it's a great one, and there's really no straight and simple answer. Not a dumb question at all.