Mike,

Welcome to the hobby of chip collecting. There are many ways to acquire chips. You can get them at the tables, the cashier (not all places), off auction sites, and trading with other people (cheapest way other than obtaining them yourself) to name some of them. Starting with current chips is a good way to get going on a collection. Obsolete chips tend to have a premium.

I think once you start buying them, you will find a niche and try to fill it and maybe branch out from there. I started with riverboats myself, seeing as how I lived near many of them, it was easy for me to get started and expand my collection. I found a few people willing to trade and it ballooned from there. eBay is a good way to purchase chips and meet people willing to do business on the side.

I hope this answers most of your questions and I think you'll find that most people who post on this board are very helpful and will answer most of your questions.