Poker chip
Casino poker chips are special tokens representing a fixed amount of money. In the gaming industry they are more generally referred to as Checks or Cheques; the difference being that a 'chip' caries no value, such as those used for roulette vs. a 'cheque' which carries a specific value and can be cashed in for money.
In (LTO and (S)DLT) tape cartridges, the geared cartridge reel hub is also called the Poker Chip.
Construction and design
The vast majorities of authentic casino chips are 'clay' chips but can be more accurately described as Compression Molded Chips. Contrary to popular belief no gaming chip going as far back as the 1950's have been 100% clay. Modern clay chips are a composition of materials more durable than clay alone. At least some percentage of the chips is of an earthen material such as sand, chalk and or clay similar to that found in cat litter. The process used to make these chips is a trade secret, very expensive, time consuming and varies slightly by manufacturer. Additionally, the Edge Spots or Inserts, as they are some times called, are not painted on as they can sometimes appear to be. In fact they are areas where the clay has been punched out of the chip and then replaced by hand with a new piece of clay of an alternate color; it would then be at this point the chip is placed under extreme pressure and heat, approximately 10,000psi (70 MPa) at 300deg F (423 K)- hence the term Compression Molded Chips[1].
The printed graphics on clay chips is called an inlay. Inlays are typically made of paper and are then covered with a thin film of plastic which is applied to the chip prior to the compression molding process. During the molding process the inlay becomes permanently affixed to the chip and can not be removed from the chip without destroying it.
Ceramic chips such as those made by ChipCo International were introduced in the mid 1980's as an alternative to clay chips and are still very common in casinos as well as being readily available to the home market. Ceramic chips are often referred to as clay or clay composite but they are in fact solid white, injection molded, ceramic disks which are simply printed on.
Bud Jones are an alternate style of chip and are one of the very few injection molded plastic chips used in casinos. They are produced by Gaming Products International and are not produced for the home market.
The chips used in American casinos rarely weigh more than 10 grams and are usually between 8.5g - 10g. There is no official weight however and some, particularly coin inlaid chips, can weigh more. The chips sold for home use vary substantially more, sometimes weighing as much as 13.5g, depending on manufacturer and construction. All chips used in casinos are clay and are between 9 and 13.5g. The standard is somewhere around 11.5g in weight and 3.3mm thick.
Common designs for home use depict the six faces of a die or the suit symbols around the edge on the face of the chip. They are typically manufactured with injection molding technology using ABS plastic. Some chips are molded around a small metal disc, called a slug, for weight.
European chips often come in Mother of Pearl. The higher value chips are often shaped like plaques.
Colors
Typically colors found in home sets include red, white, blue and sometimes black; however, more recently a wide assortment of colors have become readily available, particularly in lower-quality ABS type chips.
$2.50 chips are almost exclusively used for blackjack tables, since a "natural" (a 21 on the first two cards dealt to a player) typically pays 3:2 and most wagers are in increments of $5. However, the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey has used pink chips in $7.50-$15 and $10-$20 poker games. Low-denomination yellow chips can vary in value: $20 by statute in Atlantic City and Illinois (which, oddly, also uses "mustard yellow" $0.50 chips [2]); $5 at most Southern California poker rooms; $2 at Foxwoods' poker room in Ledyard, Connecticut and at Casino del Sol in Tucson, Arizona; and $0.50 at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Blue chips are occasionally used for $10, most notably by statute in Atlantic City. In Las Vegas and California, most casinos use blue or white for $1 chips.
Chips are commonly available in $1000 denominations, depending on the wagering limits of the casino in question. Such chips are often yellow or orange and of a large size. Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other areas which permit high wagers typically have chips available in $5000, $10000, $25000, and higher denominations; the colors for these vary widely.
European casinos use a similar scheme, though certain venues (such as Aviation Club de France) use pink for €2 and blue for €10. European casinos also use plaques rather than chips for high denominations (usually in the €1000 and higher range).
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission heavily regulates casinos to make things consistent among the properties. Because of CCC regulations, chips are standard colors and size for all casinos:[1]
| Denomination | Color |
|---|---|
| $1 | White |
| $2.50 | Pink (used for Blackjack, not actively at dice) |
| $5 | Red |
| $10 | Blue (commemorative chips) |
| $20 | Yellow (used for Baccarat & Pai Gow Poker, not actively at dice) |
| $25 | Green |
| $100 | Black |
| $500 | Purple |
| $1,000 | Orange (oversized) |
| $5,000 | Gray (oversized) |
| $10,000 | Numbered plaque (never(?) used at craps table) |
Unlike in Vegas, there are no special oversized chips from the Baccarat tables; one size fits all.
Security
Each casino has a unique set of chips, even if the casino is part of a larger company. This distinguishes a casino's chips from others, since each chip and token on the gaming floor has to be backed up with the appropriate amount of cash. In addition, with the exception of Nevada, casinos are not permitted to honor another casino's chips.
The security features of casino chips are numerous. Artwork is of a very high resolution or of photographic quality. Custom color combinations on the chip edge (edge spots) are usually distinctive to a particular casino. Certain chips incorporate RFID technology, such as those at the new Wynn Casino in Las Vegas.
Counterfeit chips are rare. High levels of surveillance, along with staff familiarity with chip design and coloring, make passing fake chips difficult. Casinos, though, are prepared for this situation. According to one report, a Canadian casino removed all chips from the gaming floor and replaced them with new sets with alternative markings, which resulted in the arrest of the attempted counterfeiters. [3]
Casino chips used in tournaments are usually much cheaper and much simpler in design. Because the chips have no cash value, usually chips are designed with a single color (usually differing in shade or tone from the version on the casino floor), a smaller diameter, and a basic mark on the interior to distinguish denominations; however, at certain events (such as the World Series of Poker or other televised poker), chips approach quality levels of chips on the floor.
History
History of Poker Chips Although the first gambling house was legalized in Venice in 1626, actual poker chips as we know them now were still not used for over two hundred more years. Back in the 1800’s and prior, poker players seemed to use any small valuable object imaginable. Early poker players sometimes used jagged gold pieces, gold nuggets, gold dust, or coins as well as “chips” primarily made of ivory, bone, wood, paper and a composition made from clay and shellac.
Several companies between the 1880’s and the late 1930’s made Clay composition poker chips. There were over 1000 designs from which to choose. Most chips were white, red, blue and yellow but they could be made in most any color desired.
For two hundred years, chips have been custom made to ward off cheating. However, the ease of duplication still left the door open to cheating. Today, each casino has a unique and totally secret blend composition used to mold their chips.
History of Chip Tricks Since the beginnings of organized gambling, people have fidgeted with their money, gold nuggets, chips or whatever it may have been. Only in the 20th century, with the development of better stacking and uniform chips, has modern Chip Tricks been more common. Dealers and players passing the time would inadvertently play with their chips. Of course, after years of practice, one little and unbecoming skill becomes quite smooth and interesting. Others would try their luck at a technique or two that they might have seen somewhere.
This slow process continued in casinos and private games for years. Only magicians and performers would ever take the time to try to master multiple stunts with coins or chips as part of a demonstration. After all, tricks were subtle at the table and not meant for being flashy or intimidating. But, times change. In the last few decades, it has definitely become less of an etiquette issue to do fancy things at a table. In fact, players, spectators and dealers welcome unique skills at a table and consider anyone able to do masterful chip tricks and card handling as someone who “really knows how to play”! It is now part of the game and part of your poker image.
With the World Poker Tour, World Series of Poker, Celebrity Poker and many more televised shows, there has been an explosion of interest in Chip Tricks and Card Stunts. It is simple really. People watching at home are very quickly being exposed to cool looking tricks from the “pros”. Programs even focus on anything different or skillful in this new wave of showing off, instant gratification, intimidation and looking “cool”.
This year marks an all time interest in poker tricks. We are not talking about cheating either! Just legitimate skills done at the table with chips and cards to look like you know what you are doing. Total beginners to pro players and magicians have created many new Chip Tricks in the last few years. It has become as popular as activities like “hacky sack” or “frisbee”. Chip Trick enthusiasts chat in forums about tricks, have competitions and claim bragging rights to any new variation of existing tricks.