Mike,

Any deal where a casino is making chips for collectors but selling the entire release to one person or group smacks of a certain dishonesty.

I readily admit that I have difficulty viewing today's LE's as casino chips because for the most part they are not intended for gaming. I know many will disagree with that opinion. That is fine all should collect whatever makes them happy.

But when the casino not only has no intention of using the chip for gaming, but actually has no intention to do anything but sell the whole set as a lot it seems that the casino's involvement is a mere facade to give the chip an air of legitimacy.

Further, we have seen prices of chips skyrocket because of market manipulations. Everybody attacked Rene when they accused him of buying almost the entire Harrah's March Madness release. The only difference here is that the profits from this manipulation are going to the club, and the amount of the profit on a per chip basis has been promised to be kept low. Although I understand those involved are acting out of a genuine desire to benefit the club, I believe that it damages the hobby by creating an environment where manipulation of chip releases becomes acceptable.

I recognize others may have a different opinion, but from some of the responses you would think I called for Dick Brach to be publicly executed. I simply expressed my disapproval. I KNOW THAT DICK AND THAT ALL THE CLUB MEMBERS INVOLVED ARE ACTING WITH BEST OF INTENTIONS . . . AND I HAVE NEVER SUGGESTED OTHERWISE.

BTW is the casino donating its profits from the sale?