Jim,
Welcome to the chipboard and the hobby.
I began chip collecting about 14 years ago. On my first trip to AC I played $5 BJ at the Atlantis and for some as yet unknown reason I brought home a $2.50 chip. For years I picked up a chip from here and a chip from there. Friends and family started bringing me a chip from their travels. Jill put hers in tupperware but I put mine in a beer mug.
As others have said, it is impossible to have everything and specialization is probably a good bet in the future. I would recommend accumulating a small sample of the many different types of cheques/chips. Tribal, AC, LV/Nevada, CA, AZ, jetons, mother of pearl, bone, ivory, cruise ship (wet) chips, no cash value,coin inlays, brass core, roulettes, inlaid, composition,illegal, unidentified, etc etc. Once you get these samples hopefully something will strike you as a little more interesting than the rest. Price will be a factor and some types are certainly more attainable than others. I am still with out a crest and seal and an ivory example.
I think the old mold chips and the UFCs (unidentified flying chips)are really interesting and am considering concentrating on them.
I must warn you that the generosity of club members that others have mentioned is a reality of this hobby. Get used to it.
I hope (know) that you will enjoy chip collecting.
Email me your address (send to murph4qs@msn.com ) and when I get home next weekend I will send you something.
Best Regards,
Murph