Fred, I made the drive from Tahoe or Reno to Vegas twice when I lived in Sacramento. Unless things have changed, many of the small casinos you'll come across will have little or no live gaming until late in the afternoon, so plan your trip accordingly. And most are not very eager to sell chips from the cage.

You'll probably find tables open at the Nugget and Casino Fandango in Carson City and at the Carson Valley Inn in Minden, but unless you're passing through some of the other small towns late in the day, it might be tough. I was there too early (twice) at Casino West in Yerington, and the El Capitan in Hawthorne sold me only $5 chips (it was running low on other denominations). Topaz Lodge will be a bit out of your way but worth the detour, and you should be able to get chips there.

Regardless, it will be a fun part of your trip.