The chips were easy to replicate, and players started adding their own handmade chips to their stacks during games.

But this ingenious idea to replace “currency” with chips was not without problems. Some chips were made from a mixture of clay and paper. The history of casino chips shows that the first casino chips were fashioned out of stones, wood, and bone. The invention of casino chips was inspired by necessity. As a result, bets became chaotic and challenging to track. Some players even wagered their cattle, food, and other personal items. People used gold nuggets, coins, gems, and minerals they had found while mining. Not everyone who walked into a saloon or casino had access to money. When gambling first started becoming popular, there was no set currency. The History and Tradition of Casino Chips There’s even some impressive tracking technology hiding inside the chips for gambling at a casino.īefore your next visit to a casino to play casino table games, read this guide on casino chips and why they’re still a necessary part of the casino experience. Betting chips don’t just induce nostalgia they increase security, help prevent fraud, and influence how gamblers think and behave. The truth is that casino chips are much more than a bygone casino currency. With multiple digital payment options and the rise of cryptocurrency, casino patrons might wonder why casinos still use traditional chips instead of cash or electronic payment methods.

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