Cindy,

Casino cheques (commonly, but incorrectly, called chips) used on most table games have denominations on them, for example: $1, $2.50, $5, $25 and so on. Casinos do not usually mind you taking the cheques off the table. In fact you have to do that in order to cash them in at the cashiers window. However, casino chips (used in roulette) do not have a denomination. The value of each chip is determined when you buy in. If you hand the dealer $100 you will get 100 chips and the dealer will track these at $1 each. If you were to buy in at $500 you would get the same 100 chips, only this time the dealer would track them at a value $5 each. The casinos consider roulette chips as their property and don't want any leaving the table. The reason is simple. Say you buy in today at $1 each and don't cash them all in. Tomorrow you come back and buy in at $5 each. Then you take the ones you didn't cash in from yesterday, put them on the table and make an instant profit of $4 each.