Pay no attention to Archie, John. Criminals are always trying to blame society for their problems <G>.

Seriously, I don't think casinos are really worried about the nefarious actions of a few dedicated chip collectors. They are however highly motivated to prevent cheating, and tend to view every action in light of it's potential to turn the odds to the player's advantage. Roulette chips do not have a fixed monetary value. At a $1 minimum table, I could be playing blues worth $1 each next to someone else playing greens worth $25 each. If I were to buy in at a low level, pocket a stack of chips, then sometime later buy in at a high level and get the same color, I could slip some of my previous chips back into the game, thereby stealing from the casino.

To prevent that, the casino keeps a fixed number of even stacks of each color, so they can tell if more chips have been "rung in." Chips leaving the table mess with the number of stacks and keeping them even and all that, and provides opportunity. The casino could care less what your true objective is. Their objective is to keep the roulette chips at the table. Therefore, those who conspire to remove these chips, and do so with the full knowledge that the casino seeks to prevent such action, are technically taking other peoples' property without permission. Whatever cute euphemism you use for it.

Some casinos worry about it more than others. I've had a floor manager give me a set when I asked for it. I've heard of some people being arrested.

Do I care that others harvest? No. Do I own contraband roulette chips? Yes. Do I harvest? NO! I never ever want to be shown the exit of a casino and asked to not come back. But I do know that the intent of "harvesting" is not to defraud the casino. I've even had pit bosses suggest I harvest when I've asked for a set. I still would rather not.

Of course, were I to learn of someone ringing chips back in at a higher value, I'd consider that a dastardly crime. If I thought someone on this board were trying to justify such an action, I'd have a cow. Just ask Archie. He's seen me have a cow!