# How do casinos protect themselves against fake chips? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228 "2003-08-19T16:18:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/1 "2003-08-19T16:18:10Z")
'nuff said. In the casinos I’ve been to, the chips seemed to be simple plastic coins without any remarkable security features. They didn’t even bear a serial number or something like that. I concede that counterfeiting casino chips in sufficient quality is not an easy task to do, and anyone trying to do it should be careful not to attract attention by overdoing the thing, but I guess the way things are done now (or seem to me) is just an invitation to forgers, since a mere plastic chip can have a value of hundreds of dollars. Besides when redeeming chips for cash, the clerk doesn’t seem to scrutinize what I gave him too closely, so what do the casinos do to prevent that? ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/2 "2003-08-19T16:46:13Z")
In the (British) casinos I’ve been to, simple plastic chips have only represented comparatively small sums of money, and you are not generally allowed to leave the table with them (or, one assumes, to arrive at the table with them either). The latter restriction would make it harder to pass off forgeries. For larger sums, and taking your winnings from the table, chips of a more complex construction are used, which have metal centers and banding in a contrasting color: forging these would not be so simple. Is it different in other casinos? Also, note that casinos tend to watch all that happens on the floor very closely, through a network of cameras and human observers. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/3 "2003-08-19T17:01:04Z")
A friend of mine’s father makes gambling chips. The cash chips are really quite complex - as **refusal** says, the simple “colour chips” cannot be taken from table to table, and usually have a table number engraved on them to ensure that this is adhered to. (BTW, despite plying him with beer I have been unable to secure any free cash chips from my friend’s dad. He says it is more than his livelihood is worth… shame 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/4 "2003-08-19T17:02:43Z")
I thought that most casinos actually used a ceramic chip. I bought a set of 600 off the net and love that they seem to have the same weight and feel of a casino chip. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/5 "2003-08-19T17:37:08Z")
In US casinos you can not only take chips from table to table, but if you visit two casinos owned by the same company (such as Bally’s and the Flamingo) they might let you use chips at one from the other. (If you can’t take your chips from the table, how do you get your money? Here we have to take our chips to the casino cage.) ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/6 "2003-08-19T18:29:53Z")
How illegal is the making of false chips? There are very high penalties for printing false money, but do these laws apply to creating false cassino chips and using them? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/7 "2003-08-19T18:31:28Z")
**voguevixen** , there are two types of chips - table chips (known as “colour chips”) and cash chips. At the table you buy colour chips using either cash chips or hard cash. These are a fixed value, say $5, and each player has a set colour. You play with your colour chips, and then when you have won enough at that table (yeah right) you can exchange these colour chips back to cash chips. You then take these to another table and lose the lot. Er, I mean, you take them to the cashier and cash them in. As I said, the table chips are not “high-security” but the cash chips are, especially when you get up to the high value ones, which have holograms etc. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/8 "2003-08-19T18:49:14Z")
The fact that most casinos are run by the mafia is a pretty good deterrent 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/9 "2003-08-19T19:04:49Z")
In the US casinos I have been in, there is no distinction between “table chips” and “cash chips.” The chips used at the table are the ones that you Brits have been calling cash chips (metal center, colo(u)r striped outer band). They can be purchased at the table or cashier’s cage and used anywhere in the casino. ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/10 "2003-08-19T19:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless \* > \*\*How illegal is the making of false chips? There are very high penalties for printing false money, but do these laws apply to creating false cassino chips and using them? \*\* How illegal? In one word: very. Nevada covers it in their statutes under Chapter 465, Crimes & Liabilities Concerning Gaming > [@](#): > > 1. A person who violates any provision of NRS 465.070 to 465.085 [cheating, counterfeiting, altering devices, etc…], inclusive, is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished: [http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-465.html#NRS465Sec080](http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-465.html#NRS465Sec080) New Jersey Casino Control Act Article 9 Sanctions > [@](#): > > 5:12-114 Unlawful use of bogus chips or gaming billets, marked cards, dice, cheating devices, unlawful coins; penalty > … > e. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S. 2C:43-3 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $25,000.00, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, to a fine of not more than $100,000.00 and any other appropriate disposition authorized by N.J.S. 2C:43-2b. [http://www.state.nj.us/casinos/article9.html](http://www.state.nj.us/casinos/article9.html) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/11 "2003-08-19T19:18:09Z")
In A.C. at least, things couldn’t get much more lax than with chips…as you can pretty much juggle with them and no one will blink. Go table to table…take them home…bring them back after going out for dinner. You can walk away from the table intending to gamble again and then switch gears and cash out. They do ‘pay attention’ more than you think. All cameras spy on hands, known cheats are tracked carefully, and the payout windows have watchful eyes. They look methodical, which makes you think they aren’t paying attention, but there are eyes on you and your cards, game, chips, etc. Casino workers actively watch and are watched themselves, because their failure to spot monkey business will quickly bring them into the position of potential ‘accomplice’. So everybody is watching everybody. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/12 "2003-08-19T19:32:27Z")
Well, after a little bit of searching I still don’t have a definitive answer. [This](http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Archives/CA_Show_Article/0,2322,1147,00.html) article says that most Vegas casino chips are made by **Paul-Son**. > [@](#): > > Paul-Son’s chips are made through a compression-mold process and are identifiable by small, uneven colored stripes on the edge of a chip. The stripes have a “squished” look and appear to be painted on but are actually composed of small, colored inserts that are set into a mold. Under extremely high pressure, the inserts and surrounding plastic material are fused into one solid block. Many Paul-Son chips are also imprinted around the edge with the company’s distinctive “hat and cane” mold. So these seem to be plastic, as well as one of the other two major chip manufacturers. One of them still uses ceramic. > [@](#): > > Chipco’s chips are made of an injection-molded ceramic material in one-piece construction. This [Q&A](http://www.wizardofodds.com/askthewizard/askthewizard7.html) gives one answer to the OP > [@](#): > > "The reason you don’t hear more about people counterfeiting poker chips is because of the cost and the intricate methods that are required to produce the chips. There are very few poker chip manufacturers. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the machinery and different commodities neccessary to make poker chips. It costs, on average, $10,000 to $20,000 just to have your own mold manufactured, let alone counterfeiting casino chips. Let me see what else I can find. Well, not much else except for companies marketing their own brand of secure chip. Some of the newest technology uses a transmitter inside the chip which broadcasts at a certain frequency. Some have marks which are only visible under UV light. From what I can gather, it’s very difficult to create the fakes, and you would also have a problem passing them off. Dealers handle thousands of chips a day and could probably tell if the chip was only slightly different in feel and weight. I’ll also say that the risk would be high because of the amount of surveillance at casinos. It would be easy to get caught I’d think. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/13 "2003-08-19T20:59:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fat Bald Guy \* > \*\*In the US casinos I have been in, there is no distinction between “table chips” and “cash chips.” The chips used at the table are the ones that you Brits have been calling cash chips (metal center, colo(u)r striped outer band). They can be purchased at the table or cashier’s cage and used anywhere in the casino. \*\* The main difference is Roulette, where each player is given a unique color of chip, and their value is based on the stakes of the table ($1 Roulette, all the chips are worth a dollar). They are usually a solid color with no bands around the outside. This at the Vegas casinos I’ve been to. Some of the table games use a metal token for a $1 chip, if you get to a low enough stakes table to need dollars. But I’ve learned something…I thought casino chips were clay. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/14 "2003-08-19T21:09:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke of Rat \* > \*\*But I’ve learned something…I thought casino chips were clay. \*\* I thought the same thing. Note that the article I posted was by _Cigar Afficianado_. I’m not sure how thorough they are, but I’ve no reson to doubt what they say. My ceramic chips certainly look and feel like casino chips to me. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/15 "2003-08-20T09:29:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke of Rat \* > \*\*The main difference is Roulette, where each player is given a unique color of chip, and their value is based on the stakes of the table ($1 Roulette, all the chips are worth a dollar). They are usually a solid color with no bands around the outside. This at the Vegas casinos I’ve been to. \*\* The casinos I’ve been to (they were all Austrian) allow for the same kind of chips to be used at all tables, except for American Roulette where they use color chips. The also offer French Roulette played with standard chips with which you’d also play blackjack or whatever. (Nice side effect: There’s only one zero even in American Roulette. I don’t know why they’re offering two different roulette styles, but if do, they have to eliminate the 00 or else nobody would play the American way.) ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/16 "2003-08-20T14:16:32Z")
What’s French Roulette? How does it differ from American roulette? ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/17 "2003-08-20T14:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whatami \* > \*\*What’s French Roulette? How does it differ from American roulette? \*\* American roulette has not only “naught,” (0,) but also “double naught,” (00.) ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-protect-themselves-against-fake-chips/196228/18 "2003-08-20T16:28:37Z")
American Roulette has a different layout of the table (click [here](http://thessaloniki.regencycasino.hyatt.com/images/roulette.gif) for an American table and [here](http://www.kasinocentralen.nu/images/roulette.jpg) for a French one. Usually French Roulette has only one zero (0) while American has two (0 and 00), but the casinos I’ve been to have only one zero in American as well (two zeros means ripping off the players even more because the house edge is 2/38 instead of 1/37 with one zero). The options you can play have French names in French Roulette and English ones in American (even in American is pair in French, for example). But that’s just difference in style methinks; the only real difference I was able to find out is that American Roulette is played more quickly than French (at least the leaflets the casino hand out say so).