Poker Chips: Types and Denominations Explained

As a casino player, you’d know that chips are crucial to many casino titles. And the game of Poker is no different. In this article, we explain to you the most common types of Poker chips used by casino gambling venues across the globe. Also, we detail Poker chips’ different colours and their associated values. Keep reading!

Plastic chips

As their name implies, these chips are made of plastic. They are commonplace at home Poker rooms and can easily be purchased at retail shops, grocery stores or online. In the past, plastic Poker chips came in the traditional red, blue and white colours. But today, one can find plastic Poker chips in various colours.

As any experienced video Poker player would say, plastic chips are light in weight and resemble kids’ toys. So they feel like something other than the chips used in brick-and-mortar casinos. Plastic chips are comparatively cheap and usually used by recreational players or beginners trying to learn the game.

Composite/clay chips

Poker chips were largely made of clay in the past, and many players think they had a better texture than their plastic counterparts. Clay chips were the norm in saloons and card rooms of the 1800s, but their use has been limited since the mid-20th century. Casinos use chips made from a composite material as an alternative to clay-made chips. These composite chips give them the same touch and feel as the clay ones.

Poker rooms shifted from clay chips to composite chips because the latter are durable and don’t break easily. Speaking of their physical aspects, most composite chips weigh 11.5 or 13.5 ounces and are made in such a way that they slide easily on the table felt. Also, their increased weight compared to the plastic chips makes a strong sound when splashing a pot.

With classic Poker and other Poker variations, such as Caribbean Stud Poker, enjoyed by millions of casino players worldwide, it’s no wonder you can easily purchase composite chips online. And you can also find them in any good brick-and-mortar store. Composite chips are affordable, too, with 300 chips costing a few dozen pounds.

Ceramic chips

Ceramic chips are an enhanced version of clay and composite chips. They are produced using injection moulding and come with a smoother texture. Also, they are more durable than their clay counterparts. The graphics are directly printed onto the chip surface when manufacturing ceramic chips. This contrasts with plastic and other lesser-quality chips where a sticker is glued onto the chip.

As such, ceramic chips offer greater customization and allow manufacturers to create more intricate designs. Besides, they also slide smoothly on the Poker felt. Ceramic chips are more costly than composite chips, with 100 chips costing a few hundred pounds. But ceramic chips are the apt choice for players who want to give their home Poker room that “special” feel.

Metal chips

Metal chips are less common than the other chip types used at Poker tables for four cards Poker, 5 card Poker and other Poker variations. They are usually preferred by players who want to have a unique set of chips.

Metal chips, made from silver, gold and other precious metals, were sold by Time Life in the 1900s. But today, one can only find them on online auction sites or famous antique stores.

A quick look at Poker chips history

Throughout history, casino gambling games have made use of markers and other objects as a way to represent money. The initial form of modern-day casino chips first appeared in the early 19th century.

A careful analysis of Poker history shows that the saloons and gambling houses of the 1800s had pieces of bone, clay or ivory in the form of chips. But as those things could easily be duplicated, gambling venues partnered with commercial companies to produce customized clay chips. These chips had intricate details and specific patterns that made them exclusive to a gambling venue. So, it took a lot of work for rogue players to copy them.

Modern-day casino gambling venues still follow the practice of making customized Poker chips. While some casinos prefer using a mixture of clay and ceramic for manufacturing their chips, others use completely ceramic chips. Several aspects of Poker chips, like weight and design, are carefully controlled to avoid rogue players using counterfeit chips. Some casinos even have microchips embedded in their chips to make them impossible to copy.

Poker chips denominations explained.

As a Poker player, you’ll find dozens of different Poker variations at the top land-based and mobile casinos. While every Poker game and casino venue is different, the chip denomination follows a common pattern. Below we’ve listed the different Poker chip colours and the values associated with them:

• White – £1
• Yellow – £2
• Red – £5
• Blue – £10
• Grey – £20
• Green – £25
• Orange – £50
• Black – 100
• Pink – 250
• Purple – 500
• Yellow – 1000(sometimes burgundy or grey)
• Light blue – £2000
• Brown – £5000

Conclusion

So, this covers everything you need to know about the most common types of Poker chips. It’s worth noting that the chip values may vary slightly from one casino UK to another. So, it would be best to look at your chosen Poker game’s pay table. If you’re completely new to the game of Poker, then understanding Video Poker odds will surely help you. And for players who want to increase the entertainment level of their Poker gameplay, we suggest you check our guide on video Poker odds. Happy gaming!