I have witnessed two completely opposite reactions with Indian Casinos in Southern California pertaining to incidents of poker tournament players harvesting/stealing, to-may-to/to-mah-to NCV tournament chips.

At Casino Pauma, about a year ago, I saw a player ask the dealer if he could take home a 25NCV poker tournament chip as a souvenir. The dealer said no problem, just do it quickly and don't let the supervisor see.

At a Pechanga tournament, I saw the supervisor and security guard approach a player at the table next to mine and escort a "regular" away from the tournament for putting a tournament chip in his pocket. He was kicked out of the tournament with no refund and I later heard from a dealer there he was 86'd from the property for 6 months..