There is more than one issue here.

1. Is it Ok to remove a hotstamp

2. Is the seller trying to take unfair advantage

3. Could another ultimately take unfair advantage

4? There may be even more issues here.

It is reasonable to presume that the casino made the cancellation marks with the intent to prevent the use of said chip in their casino. Obviously if the reason for removing the cancellation marks was to be ablke to use the chip in the casino, that would be a criminal issue.

If the mark was removed to make it more attractive, to determine which casino it was from etc. It may not be a problem for the person who did it for the reason given. It may provide a problem down the line.

If a drilled or repaired or alterred chip is so labeled (ie on the edge) then fair notice is given, no problem (this presumes full disclosure by a seller, if all that can be seen is the front/back of a chip).

If a chip is alterred from the state it was in when released by the casino (notwithstanding any dirt that may have been cleaned off of the chip), I would prefer it not be alterred, and I think it raises risks that less than honorable persons will take advantage.

In fact I was advised when I found a bunch of illegals, not to clean the ones I was putting up for trade, there are people who are hesitant about chips that have been cleaned (?) as well.

AS to the honesty of this particular seller: It appears he was up front about the chip, and many others speak well of the seller. It is not unreasonable in light of that evidence to give him every benefit of the doubt.

The problem is there will be someone down the line who won't be. And letting a cancer no matter how small pass, will have serious, even fatal, consequences.

Removing a cancellation is an alteration, any alteration should be permantly identified on the chip, any alteration should be seriously considered before being done, and person who knowingly attempts to defraud (or is in a position where they should have been aware that a potential fraud may occur) should be held accountable (didn't the english spy say something about castration?). Finally, no person should regard a "modified" chip as being any better than the same chip unmodified.

I do have to say that I understand where stalwarts like Black, Spagg and Trimble are coming from. There are too many crooks in the world, who will do whatever they can to scam a few bucks (I see them everyday in my job). THe surest way is to nip it in the bud (is this what you were referring to David?) before it flowers into a problem.