Poker chips are an essential part of any poker game that players tend to take for granted. Whether in land-based casinos, online poker rooms, or even casual home poker evenings, players use poker chips to place bets and think nothing more of it. But have you ever wondered who invented poker chips, or when they were invented? The history of poker chips is more interesting than you may think.

Read on for a deep dive into the historical beginnings of poker chips.

History of Poker Chips

Throughout the history of poker chips, these tokens have undergone major transformations. All kinds of designs, colors, and security features are now common, but things weren’t always this sophisticated.

Nobody knows exactly who invented poker chips. In the early days of poker, before mass production, players simply used whatever was on hand: gold nuggets, stones, gems, wood, and ivory. While these items worked for simple bets, gambling houses soon recognized the need for standardized betting tokens.

Because chips could be cashed in for real money, fraud became an issue. Simple designs were easy to copy, creating a growing risk of counterfeiting. This forced early gambling houses to get creative, leading to the development of more elaborate and secure tokens.

Gambling Tokens Before Poker Chips As We Know Them

Before plastic, what were poker chips made of? In poker’s early days, players simply used whatever came to hand as betting tokens. These included objects such as pieces of wood, stones, or bones. Players would often carve them into shapes, such as disks, and carve marks on them to assign different monetary values. For high-stakes games, more valuable tokens were used — ivory, for instance.

The Invention of Poker Chips

The trouble with all these tokens was that they were easy to damage and tamper with. Also, the lack of standardisation meant players could get confused from one game to another. The need for a durable, standard gambling token was clear, and the invention of casino chips was the result. 

In the 19th century, as poker grew in popularity, clay poker chips were developed. These soon became standard in poker games, being more durable than bone or wood, with different colors to enable players to tell different monetary values apart.

How the First Real Poker Chips Were Made

By the 1880s, players began using the first “real” poker chips. Casino companies developed ways to compress clay into molds at high pressures and temperatures, often adding a branded inlay.

Compared to the improvised tokens of earlier centuries, these new clay chips were a huge advancement. They provided a consistent, reliable experience for players and casino operators alike.

However, pure clay wasn’t especially durable. Chips cracked, colors faded, and regular use quickly wore them down. In the 1950s, manufacturers enhanced durability by mixing clay with sand and other materials, creating stronger chips with distinct coloring and markings.

The Evolution of Modern Casino Chips

As technology advanced, casino operators started looking for even more durable and cost-effective solutions. This led to the emergence of composite chips, which are made from a combination of materials such as plastic and clay. The result? A more durable, lightweight chip that is resistant to scratches and dents and allows for intricate designs and vibrant colors. This also made it much easier to count and identify what was needed next when poker players ran out of poker chips during a game.

Not only are composite chips more durable, but they also enhance the overall gaming experience. Clearly, it makes a difference how poker chips are made.

Poker Chips Used in Casinos Today

If you glance at a guide to the different poker chips, you’ll notice that of all the different types of poker chips produced through the years, ceramic and plastic chips have become the industry standards for casinos.

Today’s chips are formed using injection molding, blending resins, ABS plastics, and ceramic-like materials. The finished product has:

• Consistent weight and balance
• Smooth surfaces
• Crisp, durable designs

Since poker chips are essentially casino currency, modern chips must meet strict production standards. From texture to diameter, every aspect is regulated to prevent fraud and ensure quality.

Earlier generations of players had to settle for fragile, easily copied chips. Today’s players can appreciate the careful craftsmanship and intense security that go into every modern poker chip.

Easily-Accessible Poker Chips for Home Games

Looking to get together with friends for a home poker night? It’s easy to find suitable poker chips in major retail stores and sporting goods stores. What are the best poker chips for home games? It depends entirely on the nature of the home game you have in mind. Basic plastic chips are fine for a casual, low-stakes get-together. If you’re looking for something more classy, specialty game shops will often stock more unusual items. 

As to how many poker chips you need for home games, that will be influenced by the number of players and the kind of stakes you’re looking at. For a $1,000 starting stack, you’ll want 50–60 chips per player, making a 500-chip set ideal for a nine-player game.

Poker Chip Collecting

Over time, poker chips have become collectible, with certain items fetching high prices at auction. According to the article “A Brief Overview of Poker Chip Collecting” from Cardplayer Lifestyle, the most valuable pieces are the ivory tokens that gambling houses used from around 1870 to 1910. Ivory tokens with elaborate scrimshaw work are worth the most.

The Security of Modern Casino Chips

To keep fraudsters at bay, casinos have continually enhanced chip security. Some common security features include:

Consistency

Authentic casino chips are manufactured with strict consistency in weight, size, and even sound. Trained staff can spot counterfeit chips immediately based on feel or subtle differences.

Design Elements

Authentic poker chips feature unique color palettes, microdots, holograms, serial numbers, and UV markings that are designed to deter forgers. Under blacklight, hidden markings can reveal a chip’s authenticity.

RFID Technology

Some casinos equip their highest-value chips with RFID technology, allowing chips to be scanned and tracked. RFID tagging makes it almost impossible for counterfeit chips to go undetected.

If you’ve played casino online games with live dealers and noticed automatic value updates, you’ve already seen RFID in action.

Play Poker Online at BetMGM

Ready to play poker with real money? Get your start at BetMGM with an online poker welcome bonus to spend on cash games and poker tournaments in a broad range of styles and formats, from Texas Hold’em to Omaha and Seven Card Stud.