There are a few replies to your questions here.

First, as for the cost, it can be relatively inexpensive if that is the route that you want to take. You could go to casinos near you and, if you do gamble, play for some of the chips and tokens. That way, if you are lucky, they don't cost you anything. Or, you could just go in and buy 10 $1 chips or tokens and use those for traders to send out to others for chips from their areas. You could then start trading chips back and forth for very little. Or you could go to eBay and buy $5 chips for about $10 after shipping and it will cost you that much more. Some collectors here will get into buying old antique and obsolete (no longer used) chips that can cost hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars. Again, if you start out by just picking up the mementos from your journeys than you probably won't be spending a lot for the chips and can start a nice collection. From my stand point I would not consider it, though, as one of the more expensive, hobbies. That is based, though, on how I have approached it.

As for the redeemability of your chips, it varies from location to location. Las Vegas or Nevada, more specifically, requires that a casino issue a "Redemption Notice" From that date to a certain period of time, 30 days, 60 days...???? not sure what it is, you can redeem your chips for face value at the cage. After the expiration of the notice the casino has no obligation to take back the chips. Some will if you are playing, as a customer courtesy but they don't have to. Then there is Atlantic City, or New Jersay more specifically, that says that the casinos have to deposit with the state, I think that is the way it is, the value of unredeemed chips when they retire a chip. After the date a chip is retired, I think you might have to submit the chip to the state for redemption???? In any case, your best option, if you choose to stop collecting and liquidate your collection, is to try and sell it through the collecting community. Usually you will get at least face for a chip or token.

You could list on eBay also. One thing that comes up frequently and that I encountered today when browsing eBay is that some overprice shipping. They will be selling a $1 chip for .26 but will have $2.50 for shipping on that chip. I cheracterize these people as shipping brokers and not chip sellers. They are selling shipping, not the chip. Odd thing is that eBay doesn't seem to collect commissions on the sale of shipping and insurance service. Only on the sales prices. Thus the sellers aren't paying eBay, hardly, anything for their sales. I would plea that you not do this. Consider all your auction costs, tack that onto the cost or value of the chip, (face value?) and then charge reasonable shipping. I have nothing against paying $1.50 or $2.50 for a current $1 chip and then about $1.00 or $1.50 for shipping handling etc. $2.50 for shipping, to me, is an insult. Now with that rant over, this way, you would get most if not all your money back and maybe get a little return for your trouble and honesty.

Like has been mentioned in a couple of these posts, the important thing is that you have fun in the process of your collecting. Collect things that strike you in some way that you have enjoyment of owning or an appreciation from holding and viewing your chips. Or, collect in a way that you enjoy the experience of the hunt or whatever activities that you engage in during your acquisition. If you enjoy playing Blackjack and take a couple chips with you when you leave than you don't just have the chips but that experience as well. It is my feeling that it is the whole Las Vegas experience that I really zeroed in on with my collecting. Yes, I have quite a few limited edition chips that I bought long distance from dealers in Las Vegas, (I live in Chicago), that struck me for their themes, art, pop culture.... but some of my favorites are the worn dirty used chips or tokens that I snatched up while playing Blackjack or the slots, or the foriegn tokens (from casinos other than where I was playing) that I harvested from a slot jackpot or the LEs(Limited Editions) that I picked up from the rack while playing Blackjack. I always pay attention to what I am given or payed while playing. Sometimes special chips will turn up at a table and I have gotten chips from NY NY, Main Street Station and Stratosphere while playing dollar slots at The Orleans. Check your tokens as you win to see what you can find. You might be surprised. As I mentioned in a thread the other day, I look at every trip to Las Vegas as a whole collecting experience. From matches and slot cups to collectors barware to the handiwipes at the cage and Chips and Tokens.