Griffen,
You asked a really good question as evidenced by the interesting responses. It is a pleasure reading these posts instead of some of the contentious posts, recently.
I had never been in a casino until Resorts opened in Atlantic City Memorial Day weekend in 1977. I started going there regularly but did not keep any chips, unfortunately. A few years later, I happen to go into Bob Mera's store in the mall on the boardwalk in Atlantic City and discovered collecting. I bought some nice $1 current Las Vegas chips from Bob for $7 each. That was how I started. Soon after Bob and Jerry Birl talked me into joining the Atlantic City chapter that was meeting regularly in the food section of the mall!
It's been fun!
Thanks--Alan.