The most common method of removing the hot-stamp cancellation is a Q-tip and acetone, Ross. Must be done carefully as the solvent will also soften the chip base material.

I see nothing wrong with removing cancels, particularly from chips like the New Orleans riverboat chips. The cancel was not applied by the casino but the manufacturer so there's no casino history to 'preserve'. I've done lots of these, but can also understand the desire of some to keep them the way they are found. GregS likes to have the chips with one side as cancelled, the other side with cancel removed to display. Makes sense to me!

Don on Maui