Rich,

To "Liberate" or not to "Liberate" that is the question. - Oh, my God, I feel like Patrick Henry. Anyway.....

I don't think encasing a chip in Lucite is a form of cancellation although for all practical purposes the chip is rendered "useless" for redemption or is it.

Chips are usually put in Lucite and given as souvenirs to Customers or gifts to Employees. The value of the gift is usually considered to be greater and more signifigant than the value of the encased chip.

The problem comes later when "whacko" Chip collectors feel that the should be able to dig these "Gifts" out of the Lucite and put them in their collection or God forbid "Cash them in" or even sell them to some otherunsupecting "whacko" Chip collector.

If the encased chip is a high value chip $100, $1000, etc. it is a symbol of the Player's or Employee's value to the Casino and it is not meant to be "Cashed in" but rather to be kept as a rememberance of the Casino experience.

It's the same as a Superbowl Ring or a Golf Trophy. The player spends the money they win, but they usually charish and keep the Ring or the Trophy. Unfortunately, in the case of the encased chip it reminds the Gambler of the money it cost him to earn this priceless Gift from his Favorite Casino.

No one would bother to destroy a Lucite holder to get a $5.00 chip to cash in but they might try to remove a higher value chip or a chip that has a signifigant collector value.

I would say anyone who removes a chip from a Lucite holder to try cash it in or to sell it as a collectible item is doing so at their own discretion. Technically I would say the chip belongs to them, if it was given to them or if they purchased it (just like Roulette chips).

With the current Laser technology, I'm sure someone skilled enough could find a way to cut a chip out of a Lucite holder without damaging the chip. Then the Club would have to put a prohibition on this activity,ha.ha.ha and note that certain chips only exist in Lucite holders and any that are out of their holders would be considered "Liberated Chips". There would then be a list of "Liberated" chips made up so Collectors would be aware of their dubious origin.

Oh, Rich - why do you ask these ethical questions?? My head is begining to hurt and it's getting late so I am going to end now. I have a $10,000 MGM baccarat chip I need to "Liberate" from a Lucite paperweight before I call it a night.

Sweet Dreams,
"Mr.(tongue in cheek) Roulette"