Casino ChipsCasino ChipsAs CurrencyAs Currency

FTS – Money 100FTS – Money 100by: Tony Forsterby: Tony Forster

OutlineOutline History of casino chipsHistory of casino chips

What and how chips are madeWhat and how chips are made Why use them?Why use them? The many usesThe many uses

History of Gambling ChipsHistory of Gambling Chips1930’s1930’s

The earliest information about gambling The earliest information about gambling chips I could find dates back to the 1930’s.chips I could find dates back to the 1930’s.

The Portland billiard ball company started The Portland billiard ball company started mass producing them along with the billiard mass producing them along with the billiard ballsballs

(Plastic stamped chips.)

Chips were very simple, just made out of Chips were very simple, just made out of plastic with a technique equal to stamping.plastic with a technique equal to stamping.

History (cont.)History (cont.)1940’s1940’s

In 1947 the Portland Billiard Company In 1947 the Portland Billiard Company purchased a rival company and became purchased a rival company and became the largest producer of casino chips in the largest producer of casino chips in America as more and more casinos are America as more and more casinos are starting up around the nation.starting up around the nation.

During this time period was when colored During this time period was when colored edge spotting and custom design molds edge spotting and custom design molds were introduced to chip production.were introduced to chip production.

(New Clay chips with designs and side

spotting.)

History (cont.)History (cont.)1950’s-1960’s1950’s-1960’s

Introductions of new symbols and Introductions of new symbols and designs on the chips to customize designs on the chips to customize them even more for each casino.them even more for each casino.

In 1955 the introduction of In 1955 the introduction of multicolored side spots.multicolored side spots.

(Great picture of the chip designs and the side spots that were introduced in this time period.)

History ( cont.)History ( cont.)1970’s1970’s

1975 a new chip design introduced.1975 a new chip design introduced.

*injection molded, compared to *injection molded, compared to compression molded like compression molded like

before.before.

*Offers some a number of new *Offers some a number of new advantages. advantages.

History ( cont.)History ( cont.)1980’s-1990’s1980’s-1990’s

In 1985, another new chip was invented In 1985, another new chip was invented that that sparked a wave a chip collecting sparked a wave a chip collecting around around the country.the country.

Looks were more appealingLooks were more appealing Much more effort put into the design.Much more effort put into the design. Had materials built in to stop Had materials built in to stop

counterfeiting.counterfeiting.

The ‘Chipco Pro Tech Chip’

How chips are madeHow chips are made Chips today are made of clay, plastics, complex Chips today are made of clay, plastics, complex

resins and even metals.resins and even metals. Two types of methods by which they are produced Two types of methods by which they are produced

are compression and injection. We mostly use the are compression and injection. We mostly use the injection method today.injection method today.

Each casino will have different kinds of chips. The Each casino will have different kinds of chips. The texture and chip style depend on the producer.texture and chip style depend on the producer.

Printing on the chips, texture, weight and side Printing on the chips, texture, weight and side markings are all in part to help stop counterfeiting markings are all in part to help stop counterfeiting of the chips.of the chips.

Fun Fact: A chip costs anywhere from $.50 to $.85 Fun Fact: A chip costs anywhere from $.50 to $.85 cents to produce and in turn is given the value of cents to produce and in turn is given the value of $1, $5, $10, etc. by the casino. Inside the casino it $1, $5, $10, etc. by the casino. Inside the casino it is just an agreed value and the system works is just an agreed value and the system works because of that agreement.because of that agreement.

Why Use Chips?Why Use Chips?Why not just Currency?Why not just Currency?

3. Casinos like the idea 3. Casinos like the idea because it is because it is easiereasier to to spend a chip at a spend a chip at a blackjack table then spend blackjack table then spend actual paper money. actual paper money. Anyone who has gambled Anyone who has gambled and lost can understand and lost can understand this.this.

4. Speeds up the game 4. Speeds up the game and makes for more card and makes for more card playing because there is playing because there is less time being wasted less time being wasted making change.making change.

1. Chips are 1. Chips are easier easier to to handle and bet with while handle and bet with while playing cards.playing cards.

2. Chips make it 2. Chips make it easiereasier to to see exactly how much the see exactly how much the players bet and how much players bet and how much they should get back. they should get back. Easier to make change in Easier to make change in chips than to make change chips than to make change in currency.in currency.

Main Reason: “Makes Life in a Casino Main Reason: “Makes Life in a Casino Easier”Easier”

The Uses of The Uses of Casino ChipsCasino Chips

There are more uses for chips than most There are more uses for chips than most people would think….people would think….

Obviously, Betting on Obviously, Betting on Cards is number 1.Cards is number 1.

Tipping a dealer.Tipping a dealer. Getting a massage.Getting a massage. Buying Buying

food/refreshments.food/refreshments. Collecting.Collecting.

Buying things at Gift Buying things at Gift and Souvenir Shops and Souvenir Shops inside the casino.inside the casino.

Hotel and service bill if Hotel and service bill if the hotel is associated the hotel is associated with the casino.with the casino.

Trade for U.S. dollars.Trade for U.S. dollars. Etc…Etc…

Invisible MarkingInvisible Marking Invisible tags are added to the chips by the Invisible tags are added to the chips by the

casinos for many reasons…casinos for many reasons…* Routinely, casinos mark their chips with * Routinely, casinos mark their chips with

invisible invisible ink that only under UV light will it be ink that only under UV light will it be seen.seen.

* Tags are put on chips so that casinos can * Tags are put on chips so that casinos can monitor monitor how much a person is betting, how how much a person is betting, how much they are much they are losing, and most importantly, losing, and most importantly, how much they are how much they are winning.winning.

* These tags are nothing but little * These tags are nothing but little microchips that microchips that modify a radio signal sent by modify a radio signal sent by the reader. Also if the the reader. Also if the signal is not sent back, signal is not sent back, the casino knows the chips the casino knows the chips are fake.are fake.

1930’s 1940’s 1950’s

1960’s – 1970’s 1980’s – 1990’s

1990’s - 2000 2000’s

Questions…?