One thing about this hobby is that, unlike stamp or baseball card card collecting, chips are expensive if you want to be a semi serious collector

This is one argument I have heard several times over the years, but I just don't get it.

How much does it cost to have a pretty thorough $1 chip collection for Las Vegas..or California..or anywhere? Not much.

Have you bought a pack of baseball cards in recent years? 4 cards in a pack for $4 is the norm..