I have the answer to all of this...

It all depends.

Could be the person in the cage knows she can sell chips, if she's in the mood and maybe her Uncle is the manager?

The casino issues "Checks" as a payment instead of cash. They can not be used for anything else, including at another casino or in the gift shop or restaurants.

When I'm taking a chip, I'm sure the casino is happy, because they owe me $5 and the check they printed cost them somewhere around a buck and a half. Dollar Checks might cost them less if they are hot stamped, so they can make a profit on thoe as well.

Gene had it straight. The chips _legally_ belong to the casino. But they aren't going to care or enforce that right most of the time. That's Nevada, where checks can be voided by public announcement after a redemption period.

Jew Jersey the chips are never voided. Never!

Other states have other laws and in foreign countrys you may be stopped for trying to take chips, because they don't have enough and don't understand that it's money in their pocket when a chip walks. Maybe they are afraid of counterfeiting?

The point is that the law is one thing and what happens in casinos is another. The check is legally casino property. You don't buy it. But if the casino issues a commemorative check (aka chips), you can be sure they want you to take them home.