According to Las Vegas icon “Big Julie” Weintraub, the invention of the poker chip was an act of sheer brilliance. A significant player from the golden era of The Dunes, Weintraub facilitated the journey to Las Vegas for high-end individuals, contributing to the city’s reputation during the early 60s.
True to his words, the casino chip — a circular 39mm wide and 8-16gm weight — is nothing short of ingenious. Primarily made of clay, it currently consists of a variety of components such as sand, chalk, and a variant of clay common in cat litter. High-value chips often have an added safety measure in the form of RFID trackers to forestall theft.
The chip-making method is confidential as these chips, being numismatic tokens, hold real worth. The ability to duplicate would foster counterfeit circulation causing a considerable setback in the casinos.
Nevertheless, when and where did the casino chip originate? Let’s travel back in time to find out…
Benefit
Genesis of the Casino Chip
The exact birthplace of the casino chip continues to remain a baffling question. Gambling has been part of human history since the beginning of time. The ancient board games from the Neolithic era and circa 6,000 B.C paint a clear picture of this fact.
By the time the pyramids of Giza planning was underway, gambling was an integral part of life, as evidenced by the discovery of various dice and board games from ancient Egypt, litters of papyrus dating back to even 4,000 B.C, stating laws against betting.
Although it’s challenging to trace the first betting chip, evidence of betting tokens being used to deceive authorities in Rome around 500 B.C is well-documented, bringing chips into existence.
Over two millenniums, chips flourished into their modern form. The noteworthy evolution includes the highly valued, exquisitely carved pieces from the Chinese Quin Dynasty of the mid-18th century to the initial modern chips birthed during the Gold Rush era.
Features
The Contemporary Chip
The 1800s witnessed gold prospectors with pockets filled with gold, a gold mine for the unregulated gambling sector. The cumbersome process of weighing and valuing gold was problematic, especially amidst the high-paced environment of games like blackjack and craps.
The 1800s witnessed gold prospectors with pockets filled with gold, a gold mine for the unregulated gambling sector. The cumbersome process of weighing and valuing gold was problematic, especially amidst the high-paced environment of games like blackjack and craps.
This period gave way to the development of the modern chip. Casinos began using chips constructed from materials like bone, ivory, and clay to avoid the tedious gold valuation process. Counterfeit prevention was attempted by uniquely designing and branding their chips.
Production
The Transformation of Casino Chips in the Modern Age
Presently, the philosophy behind making casino and poker chips is the successful merge of clay with other enduring materials that are compression molded. Owing to the risk of counterfeiting, the specifics of chip creation are kept under wraps and vary from one producer to another. Key manufacturers such as Gaming Partners International, Matsui, GTI Gaming, and Abbiati provide chips for authorized casinos worldwide. Conventionally, poker and casino chips weigh around 10g in American casinos, with a range of 8 to 16 grams. When acquiring chips for personal use, they are typically entirely plastic or plastic overlaid on a metal core.
Application
The World’s Priciest Casino Chip
As per available records, the most costly casino chip globally is valued at approximately $450,000. It is owned by Mr. Gerald Lewy from Ontario, Canada. This chip is distinguished by over 200 diamonds inlaid in a golden disc. One side of the chip showcases a number 7 fashioned out of gemstones, with a number 8 on the reverse.
Even ordinary casino chips can hold substantial value, especially if they originate from a significant era and casino, making them fascinating for collectors. In 2014, a rare $5 chip from the Golden Goose Casino was auctioned off for $75,000 at the Casino Chip & Gaming Tokens Collectors Club convention, Las Vegas.
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