My guess on the origin / purpose of these chips --

Yes, they appear to be pressed cardboard chips, like the "silent" cardboard chips made in that era (1958).

I think these were "trader" chips that were produced by the Los Angeles Boy Scout Council, for distribution at the 1958 convention of California councils at the Dunes. Not the Scouts themselves (obviously) but the Scouting administrators and perhaps local Scoutmasters. Catalina may refer to a Boy Scout camp that the L.A. council still runs on Catalina Island. The printed center logo is a scouting logo I think (but hard to read), and the imprinted symbol on both sides is the Scouting fleur-de-lis.

I can see the Scoutmasters at the craps tables -- gimme an 8 the hard way! The Boys need a new pup tent!