Custom home chips from Chipco doesn't have to be have 100,000 minimum order to get it to under $1/each.

For example:

http://www.holdempokerchips.com/products.asp?cat=31

The preorder price started at $0.85/chip.

I guess that's the problem with UK. You get taxed far more than we do in the US in many ways. Americans don't pay import duties from stuff coming into this country.

Note: There's not VAT in this message.