Clay Chips
Clay chips were used in the United States during the late 1800′s but since they broke easily a composite was used. Clay chips are a composition of clay or kaolin mixed into a durable high impact polymer matrix. They are more durable. The clay composite chips are quite costly and generally in short supply due to their popularity. These chips usually are in weight ranges between 8 grams and 11.5 grams and are casino standard 39 mm diameters. In the early part of the 1900’s chips were commonly moulded from Plaskon, a urea formaldehyde moulding compound. In the 1930’s die cut metal foil was applied to the chips to give it a distinctive look and for security. In the 40’s printed centres appeared and edge spots were added for further security. By 1950 most casinos has started using chips with house designs, logos or both molded into the rim and top of chip.
Composite metal core chips
Heavy and very durable chips are readily available and can usually be customized through a hot stamping or decaling process for added security. These chips are injection molded from a particulate filled thermo set plastic around an internal metal slug for that exact “Casino” look and feel.
Casino Chips, the Gold Standard
These are chips are the best and most secure. Casino chips are produced by an extremely limited number of bonded companies all located within the US. Each casino has a unique secret blend composition used to mold their chips to prevent counterfeiting. The chips are injection moulded with copyrighted designs in manufacturing facilities that have security that rivals the US mint. Most modern casino chips are a synthetic polymer acrylic composite with a laminated centre.
Plastic Chips
Plastic chip quality range from the extremely cheap chips sold at supermarkets in the toy aisle to heavy solid plastic chips. They lack security and chip easily.