"This was the question I was trying to get Rene to answer but never did. I love collecting chips but why would a casino care to make deals with dealers to control an issue? Someone please explain the thinking of a casino when it comes to chip production. I would value Gene Trimbles opinion on this one!"

It is not my place to comment on another casinos chip release policy.
I can try to explain the Palms policy.
We do not make short runs of chips. We do go to great lenghts to help all collectors get what they want. NIS services are a very important part of our hobby. If we can help them in any way, we will, but not at the expence of the average collector. Our policy probably keeps our chips from high values in the secondary market. We have decided that the secondary market is not our concern. No one involved with designing or distributing chips is allowed to be involved with the secondary market. (thats mostly me ) Our employees get the "SAME" chance to buy chips as the average collector does.
Some releases are more popular than others. Some have to be managed a little better than others. I can only remember two release that ran out the 1st day. $2.50 KY Derby and $100 Playboy. A few too many were put on the tables.
Our cashiers are trained to help collectors. We keep all issues of LE's seperated for faster and fewer mistakes when helping a collector.
We put our LE chips on the tables.
Last week we pulled all LE chips from the tables for the year end count. You would be surprised at how many had walked out the door as souvineers. Maybe some future club members somewhere along the line.
We also look at chips as being a great marketing tool. Our LE's are fearured on our big casino sign. You will find posters all over the casino featuring most releases. Our LE's have been on the 6PM news several times, featured in several newspaper columns, and featured in a number of magazine articles. Our Bingo Ellie chips were a major hit with bingo players over a 4 week span. Head counts was UP because of Ellie.
And finally:
Do we make money on them? Yes.