A poker chip (also called a chip) is a small disc used instead of money in casinos or poker clubs. Chips, by material of manufacture, are: ceramic, clay or ABS plastic. They are mainly used in table games. Chips are widely used in sports poker tournaments.
Some casinos and clubs at high stakes games (from $ 25000 and above) use plaques (from English plaque). Plaque differs from the chip that it is larger, and usually has a rectangular shape. Also plaques in casinos have their own serial numbers.
Use of poker chips
Money in a casino or club is exchanged for chips in the cashier's office, at the gaming table or in a special exchange office. Poker chips are equal in value to money within the casino/club. However, they have no value outside the casino (club), although some casinos in Las Vegas accept chips from other casinos.
Chips are used in casinos for several reasons: they are more convenient to use than paper money, they are harder to steal or counterfeit. Because of their equal size, they are easier to count in stacks (stacks) compared to paper notes when used on the table. Chips also allow the pit boss or security to quickly verify the payout amount, reducing the likelihood that a dealer may miscount a customer. The uniform weight of each casino poker chip allows the total value of all chips in a large stack to be quickly determined by total weight, although counting using standardised chip trays is more common. In addition, players handle chips more freely when playing than cash.
Finally, chips are considered an integral part of the casino gaming atmosphere and any means of replacing them with an alternative currency will not be popular with players.
Original poker chips are a huge industry of numismatics. This hobby is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. The Chips & Gaming Tokens club was formed in 1988. The value of some chips exceeds $50,000. Some casinos sell poker chip sets with one or two original packs of cards and the casino/club logo on them. The chip set is stowed in a briefcase or case.
History of the origin of poker chips
Although the first gambling houses were legalised in Venice in 1626, chips as we now know them were not used for two hundred years. As early as the 1800s, players used any small valuable objects such as coins, gold nuggets, and gold sand when playing. Later, chips began to appear, primarily made of ivory, wood, paper, and a mixture of clay.
Between 1880 and the late 1930s, several companies made the first poker chips from a clay composition. More than 1,000 varieties were produced. Most chips were white, red, blue and yellow but, nowadays, they can be almost any desired colour.
Composition and production of poker chips
The vast majority of genuine poker chips are ceramic or clay chips. Clay chips can be more accurately described as compression moulded chips. Contrary to popular belief that 100% clay chips have been universally used since the 1950s, modern clay chips are made from a composition of materials, allowing for increased durability of the chip. Different ratios of materials are used in the production of poker chips such as: sand, calcium carbonate, chalk and clay. The process used to manufacture the chips is a trade secret and may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, most of these processes are considered relatively expensive and labour intensive. To draw a pattern on the edge of the chip, it is necessary to remove part of the clay and then replace it with clay of a different colour, this operation should be done for each chip individually or, to reduce production time, at the stage of forming a cylindrical shape, for subsequent cutting into individual chips, cut out strips of clay and replace them with clay of an alternative colour. In this case, each chip receives an original decoration of the rib and the edge part of the front side. The chips are then placed in a special mould where they are heated and compressed with a pressure of about 10000 PSI (70 MPa) at a temperature of 300° F (149° C), hence the name compression moulding.
Ceramic Chips in the World of Poker
In the mid-1980s, ceramic chips were introduced as an alternative to clay chips, quickly gaining popularity in casinos and becoming readily available for purchase. Although these chips are often referred to as clay or composite, they are actually produced using a pressure casting method with specific plastics and resins, providing a feel and sound similar to clay chips.
Inlay and Its Significance
Ceramic chips feature a printed graphic called an inlay. Inserts, typically made of paper covered with a thin plastic film, are applied to the chip prior to the compression molding process. During this process, the decor becomes an integral part of the chip and cannot be separated without causing damage.
Weight of Ceramic Chips
Chips used in American casinos usually weigh no more than 10 grams, with their weight typically ranging from 8.5 to 10 grams. It's important to note that there is no universal weight for chips. Some of them are equipped with metal tokens to increase their weight.
Design Variety
The widely accepted design for home games includes images of dice or playing card suits along the edges of the chip. They are most often manufactured using a pressure casting method with ABS plastic. Some chips may incorporate a small metal disc, known as a token, to increase their weight.
Mother of Pearl Chips and Their Use
Mother of pearl chips, which add a special charm and elegance to the game, are frequently used in Europe.
Security Technologies
Each casino has its unique chips, necessitated by the need to correlate each chip with a specific value. Furthermore, using chips from other establishments is prohibited in casinos, except in the state of Nevada.
Casino chips boast numerous security features, including high-resolution images, color combinations, ultraviolet markings, and even radio frequency identification chips. These measures ensure minimal chance of counterfeiting. Best choise nowadays is an online casino with no deposit bonus codes where you can play poker in the safest way.