Why do casinos use chips?
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2023 12:42 am
There are a few reasons why casinos insist that their players use chips instead of money or virtual currency: security, branding and convenience:
Security: If an opportunistic criminal was to sit down at a casino poker table where cash was being used in place of chips, it would be easy for them to reach out, grab a wad of cash and bolt for the door. Since you have to convert your chips back into cash when leaving the casino floor, it’s a lot less likely for a thief to get away with another player’s hard-earned money.
Branding: Branding on casino chips gives the casino a leg up on the marketing front. After all, the more a player sees the casino’s name and logo, the higher the chance the particular casino will remain top of mind the next time the player is in the mood to gamble.
Convenience: A poker game would be slowed down significantly if every player had to dig in their wallet and count their cash before placing their bets. Poker chip values are usually clearly marked, making it quick and easy for a player to make decisions at the table.
Security: If an opportunistic criminal was to sit down at a casino poker table where cash was being used in place of chips, it would be easy for them to reach out, grab a wad of cash and bolt for the door. Since you have to convert your chips back into cash when leaving the casino floor, it’s a lot less likely for a thief to get away with another player’s hard-earned money.
Branding: Branding on casino chips gives the casino a leg up on the marketing front. After all, the more a player sees the casino’s name and logo, the higher the chance the particular casino will remain top of mind the next time the player is in the mood to gamble.
Convenience: A poker game would be slowed down significantly if every player had to dig in their wallet and count their cash before placing their bets. Poker chip values are usually clearly marked, making it quick and easy for a player to make decisions at the table.
