If slabbing were confined to rarer chips to assure genuineness and detect repairs, cleaning and other practices that detract from value then there just might be a place for it in the hobby.

I wasn't aware that cleaning chips detracted from their value. It certainly doesn't detract in their value to me.

Of course if you feel more secure about the authenticty of a chip because somebody you don't know says its authentic and seals it up in plastic then I guess slabbing may be of value to you.

Slabbing took off in the coin world mainly because coins have an accepted grading system that is very complex and difficult for the beginner to apply on their own. Fortunately that is not so of casino chips.