We have written this guide in hope to help identify to you what is considered a "Casino Quality" poker chip.
As you search the internet you will come across terms that are used to influence you into believing the chips being
offered are of "Casino Quality". While there is not a set definition of what "Casino Quality" is, we at holdempokerchips.com
like to use this definition. A "Casino Quality" chip is one that is made by a manufacturer that services casino's and gaming
establishments with their chips. For chips made for the home gaming market to be classified as "Casino Quality" they must be
manufactured by one of these companies and to the same high specifications. If you a looking at buying a chip and in the description
they are listed with the words "composite", "11.5gram casino weight", "labeled" you can be pretty certain these are not "Casino Quality",
but an injection molded or extruded chip of some sort.

There are three basic types of Casino Chips:

Clay Chips (compression molded):
These chips are all hand made from a proprietary mixture of clay. each manufacturer has a different mixture of materials
but the methods are generally the same. Clay is colored, pressed into a chip blank, edge spots are cut out and replaced with the desired color, the chip
have an inlay applied and is pressed at 10,000 lbs of pressure and dried or cured. 

There are only four manufacturers of compression molded (clay) chips. If one of these companies did not make the chip, the chips is not a clay chip!

T.R. King One of the earliest and oldest makers of clay chips. In the early years T.R. King serviced many casino's and cardrooms in the western U.S..
In the later years most of their work was for the home market. Early in 2006 T.R. King closed their doors and are no longer making chips. Some of their
chips are still available and are recognized by the "crown" mold used to press their chips. The Deadwoods is and example of their home sets

Atlantic Standard Molding (ASM) aka Pokerchips.com Another of the early clay chip makers. ASM now makes chips almost soley for the home market.
They have numerous molds that identify, and probably the most known is the "horsehead" mold. The Key West set is an example of their home sets

GPI Gaming aka Paulson Paulson is the main supplier of Casino chips in the world today. Only in the last couple of years did they re-enter the home game
market after a 5 year layoff. Sets such as the Pharaohs, James Bonds are current home sets. Paulson services Casinos all over the world and has the majority
of casino chips in play today.

Blue Chip Company The Blue Chip Company services some casinos and many cardrooms in the western U.S. The family that owns BCC also were the founders
of Paulson before they sold that business to GPI Gaming several years ago. Some of their home set work include The Samurai's, Mardi Gras, Nevada Jacks

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Ceramic Chips
Ceramic chips are new to the market in the early 1990. A liquified ceramic material is molded into a 39mm chip slug. Artwork is printed on linen and heat applied to
the faces and rolling edges. Some advantages to ceramic chips are the ability to create a larger, more colorful graphic, and a quicker turn around time in manufacturing.

There are two main makers of ceramic chips in the U.S.

Chipco International Chipco introduced the ceramic chip to the market in 1990 and supplies virtually all ceramic chips in play in the U.S. They have the highest quality printing available. Some of their home set work include the Egyptians, Vineyards, Classic and many more

Nevada Jacks  NJ's entered the market several years providing a quality ceramic chip fot the home market. While not licensed in the U.S., NJ's supplies many cardroom and tournament abroad. Desert Sand, American Beauties, Mardi Gras, Nevada Jacks "Skulls" are a few of the home sets they produce

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Plastic Extruded Chips

A few casinos use plastic extruded chips. In fact the WSOP used these chips made by Bud Jones. While not as popular as clay chips, they are colorful, durable, and becoming more in use in casinos today.

There are two main makers of these plastic extruded chips:

Matsui Gaming Machine A japanese gaming company servicing mostly Asia, they have now moved into a U.S. market to. A couple of their home sets are Murphy's card room and the Rounders chips, both coin inlay extruded chips

Bud Jones The most well know maker and part of the GPI Gaming company along with Paulson. Bud Jones only makes chips for casinos so no home sets exist.
There are however several used casino racks that have made it into the marketplace and are very desirable.

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If you are looking for a true casino quality chip, ask the vendor who is selling them who the manufacturer is. If they are true casino quality they will be made from one
of the above and the vendor will know it and be proud of it. If they are "not sure" or don't know, then they are probably not a casino quality chip. Most vendors will
supply samples at a nominal fee and this is a good way to begin your search.

Remember, a true casino quality chip will:

1. Weigh between 8.5g and 10g (not 11.5g)
2. Be made by a reputable maker with a name and history of casino service
3. Cost between .50c and $1.25 or more (no casino chip sells for a quarter!)
4. Be a purchase to last a lifetime, do your research, get samples and buy from a reputable vendor

Best of Luck at the tables!

Michael
Holdempokerchips.com