.... "I can see where someone willing to spend 45K on a chip would be willing to pay extra for an assurance that the chip is was it is supposed to be. How he/she gets that assurance? I dunno. Ultimately though, it is his chip. If he wants to have it slabbed, it is his choice, just as it is the choice of those against slabbing not to buy slabbed chips."

That's a reasonable conclusion Jerry!

Surprise! I agree 100% with what you've posted above ... and so does the club. Anyone can submit any chip to be slabbed at any time to any slabbing company they choose. It's a free country. It's also a free country for those chippers who feel strongly about the slabbing issue who have CHOSEN to avoid dealing with people who are engaged in slabbing of casino chips.

However, having said that, the club has adopted a policy that has been endorsed by a significant number of club members (over 500), which prohibits slabbed chips to be offered for sale by dealers at the club conventions. This prohibition is stated clearly in the bourse application contracts that every table holder has agreed to with their signature of acceptance.

Secondly, If I were going to spend an ALLEGED 45k for a rare chip ... who would I ask for a 2nd or 3rd opinon? Not a slabbing company who is only interested in the hefty fee charged for their undisclosed employee's opinion and for entombing the chip in a fancy hunk of sealed plastic to be returned to the submitter. Wouldn't you value more highly the opinions of some of the most knowledgeable and respected chippers in the business? I certainly would. The slabbing companies offer no guarantees that their issued opinions are correct ones. It's just that ... an opinion...

So in conclusion ... may I respectfully ask the following question; "how does that fact assure anyone any protection?"