You are 100% correct James.... not only with respect to the Las Vegas chip market ... but the Atlantic City market as well.

I've got lots of potential buyers with lots of cash for many of the "better chips" ... IF I HAD THEM TO SELL. As more collectors enter and leave the hobby, the available supply of older issues is consumed leaving little to choose from for new buyers. Many collectors who left the hobby when the older rack chips were commonplace ... believe that their chips are still commonplace.

The other factor is condition. Nice highly preserved condition chips are always in demand. On some chip issues, one can almost disregard the guide books as far as value goes when a choice specimen comes along.