A set of poker
chips contains chips of various colors. Each color chip
represents a different cash value. In games using unmarked
chips, players must determine a value for each chip color
prior to the start of the game. Casino poker chips always have
the chip value marked on them. The quality of the chips can
vary greatly.
Cheap poker
chips for at-home play are made from plastic and easily stored
in a plastic stacker that is often included with the purchase.
More expensive chips are made of a clay composite and
available in weights ranging from 7.5 grams to 13.5 grams or
more. The heavier the weight of the chip, the better the
quality. Higher quality chips are often sold as a set in a
heavy-duty aluminum storage case. These composite chips most
often have one of three standard designs stamped around the
outside edge. The three standard designs are diamonds, dice or
suited (hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades).
The highest
quality poker chips are the professional grade chips found in
casinos. These chips are made of a heavy weight clay
composite. Casino chips usually have the casino logo or a
picture of the casino in the center of the chip. The cash
value of the chip is also printed on each of the chips. Casino
poker chips are worth the actual cash value that is printed on
the chip.
Each casino has
specially designed casino poker chips for use by gamblers at
games within the casino. Most casino poker chips are clay
composite chips manufactured by Paulson although a few casinos
do use ceramic chips.
Casino poker
chips are not available in retail stores. Actual casino used
chips are destroyed due to safety concerns. Most buying and
selling of collectible casino chips is done on eBay.
Collectors of casino chips also gather in chat rooms and
forums to discuss their hobby.
Poker players
wishing to purchase a set of casino-quality poker chips will
find similar composite, weight and design chips available from
most poker supply distributors. Paulson chips are available
from authorized retailers and allow poker players to have the
chips made by the same manufacturer as casino chips at home.
Paulson chips
set the standard for poker chips. Paulson chips are the
highest caliber chips available. While some casinos use
ceramic chips, most prefer to use the Paulson chips. Ceramic
chips do meet the demands of casinos and players but the
preferred choice is always Paulson's clay chips.
Paulson poker
chips are easily identified by the Cane and Hat symbol that is
placed around the edge of each chip. Different sets of Paulson
chips have different placement of the signature Cane and Hat
as well as differing numbers of the symbol on each chip but it
is always there. The Cane and Hat symbol, as well as the
Paulson name, are found only on Paulson chips.
WPT poker chips
are available for purchase through many authorized dealers.
WPT, or World Poker Tour, introduced Texas Hold'em Poker as a
televised sport in 2003. The roots of today's overwhelming
international Poker interest can be traced directly to the
2003 beginnings of World Poker Tour.
WPT chips allow
home poker players to imitate the top world poker champions by
using the same WPT chips that are seen on television.
WPT chips are
produced in three colors: blue, red and black. The chips all
have a white center that displays the WPT logo. The logo in
the center of the WPT chips consists of the words World Poker
Tour in black arranged next to an ace of spades. The ace of
spades is the highest card in a poker. The outside edge of
each chip has four spades on it along with two stripes
flanking each spade. The outer edge is colored red, blue or
black. The logo on each WPT chip is laminated to ensure
durability.
WPT chips are a
clay composite chip weighing 11.5 grams. They are designed to
replicate true casino chips meaning they look and feel like a
casino chip. WPT chips even have the same sound as a casino
chip.
Authorized
dealers of World Poker Tour products sell officially licensed
WPT chips. The packaging of the WPT chips varies by seller.
Some retailers sell the WPT chips individually, others sell
them only as a tournament set. The most basic tournament set
of WPT chips contains a total of 300 chips. The chips in a 300
chip tournament set include 150 blue WPT chips, 100 red WPT
chips and 50 black WPT chips. The basic set of WPT chips
includes two decks of WPT cards and a metal storage case.
Other sets are available for authorized deals with larger
quantities of chips and upgraded cases. Additionally, a set is
also marketed as a replica of the set given to celebrity
players at the 2003 Hollywood WPT.
Taking the time
to investigate the options available in poker chip sets is
worthwhile but not required. After all, it's just a game.
Right?
