In Nevada, the Approval date by Gaming pre-dates the delivery date of the chips to the casino. The recent 50th Anniversary chips by the 9 Boyd Gaming properties in Las Vegas had the chips sitting in the cages of the 9 casinos, weeks in advance of the release. This is a minor example.

I also recall that the Ramada Express, Laughlin, NV, received, but held back, their release of a 7-piece, $5, "Patriotic Series" of Limited Edition (serial numbered) sets of chips, for what was at least a year, if not more.

There are other examples out there, as well.