In stock market contexts, a blue chip refers to a high-value, reliable stock, unrelated to gambling tokens.
Casino & Table Games
Poker chips
Poker chips are small discs or tokens that stand in for cash at a poker table, letting players bet and stack their wagers more easily than with currency.
Key points
- Poker chips replace cash at the table, allowing faster betting and easier stack counting.1
- In cash games, each chip has a fixed cash value; in tournaments, chips are non-cashable and only track standing.23
- Standard chips are about 39 mm in diameter and weigh between 5 and 16 grams, varying by casino and material.1
- Colour coding helps players and dealers quickly assess chip values without reading numbers.
Common poker chip colours and values
| Colour | Common value |
|---|---|
| White | 1 |
| Red | 5 |
| Blue | 10 |
| Green | 25 |
| Black | 100 |
| Purple | 500 |
| Yellow/Orange | 1,000 |
Materials and feel
Clay composite chips are the traditional casino standard, offering a satisfying weight and texture. Ceramic chips are common in home games and are fully customisable with printed designs. Plastic chips are lightweight and cheap, often used for play-money sets. High-end casino chips may include metal inserts or RFID tags for security and tracking.
Common questions
What are poker chips made of?
Poker chips are made from clay composite, ceramic, plastic, or metal. Clay composite chips are the traditional casino standard, while ceramic chips allow full custom printing. Plastic chips are lightweight and used for play-money sets.
What are the values of poker chips?
Values are assigned by colour, though schemes vary by casino. A common set is white = 1, red = 5, blue = 10, green = 25, black = 100, purple = 500, and yellow/orange = 1,000.
What are poker chips worth?
In cash games, each chip is worth its face value in real money. In tournaments, chips have no cash value and only determine a player's standing. The physical chip itself costs a few cents to a few dollars to manufacture.
What do real poker chips look like?
Real casino chips are round discs about 39 mm wide, weighing 5–16 grams. They have a smooth or textured edge, often with an inlaid or printed denomination, and may include security features like RFID tags or UV markings.
Where this term is used
Related terms
Sources
- Glossary of poker terms en.wikipedia.org Supports the glossary usage and standard dimensions of poker chips.
- Poker tournament en.wikipedia.org Clarifies that tournament chips are non-cashable and only determine placement.
- Cash game - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Explains that cash-game chips represent real money at stake.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.