Poker chips (also called tokens or checks) serve as the medium of betting in poker casinos. They are small discs which function like coins and represent various denominations for placing the player's stake in game tables.
There are varying materials from which poker chips are made of. The most popular is the American-style poker clay chips which were first manufactured in the 1800s and remains in use today. Original clay chips are made of 100 percent clay compressed and molded under extreme heat and pressure. It is believed that pure clay poker chips are only those that were manufactured prior to the 1950s.
In the last few years, non-clay materials are mixed with clay to make the chips more durable. These include sand, chalk, and calcium carbonate. Overtime, plastic poker chips have replaced clay chips because of their lighter weight and cheaper production. Acrylic has emerged as another alternative material for clay poker chips.
Poker chips can be bought in standard 300-piece sets such as the classic American Clay sets, Euro Style Acrylic Chips set and the Composite Poker Chips set. Aside from placing stakes in poker games, poker chips are also used as souvenirs, advertising materials and as mementos to mark special events especially in gaming recreation.
