"Gene would know the exact number"

What makes you think Gene would know?
There is nothing in gaming regs requiring chips to be filled to the tables.

"chips are for gaming purpose" if I remember the reg correctly.
The reg is open to interpretation.

*IMO the HR would have complied if none were put on the tables. They would have complied by giving them to the customers that booked on line (like their promotional rules stated) and let the customes take them to the tables and play them.

*This is my interpretation of this particular instance and is not meant to speak for the HR, the Palms, any other casino, or Gaming.

Footnote, I can't find any reg that says Chuck must get some.