Why are there $3 chips in some casinos? (5 Viewers)

[spellholly]

I am still a bit unclear about some of the denominations of chips in the casinos. I have read up on the 20$ chip and can't say I fully understand it (IE is it used in casinos that don't have $10 chips to avoid using 4x $5 chips?) But I really cant find info on the 3$ chip. Why is that a thing?

 

[Leonard]

I have seen $3 chips used as drop chips (chips for a poker hand rake) in casinos.

 

[Pinesol13]

I am still a bit unclear about some of the denominations of chips in the casinos. I have read up on the 20$ chip and can't say I fully understand it (IE is it used in casinos that don't have $10 chips to avoid using 4x $5 chips?) But I really cant find info on the 3$ chip. Why is that a thing?

Do Casinos have $10 chips...? I've never seen one

 

[RichMahogany]

Do Casinos have $10 chips...? I've never seen one

Bellagio, Aria and quite a few others current and closed

 

[Seeking Alpha Social Club]

Because mo chips is mo betta!!

I actually have no idea, but I love it!!

 

[Rhodeman77]

Some casinos run $9/18 limit games with it

 

[Seeking Alpha Social Club]

Some casinos run $9/18 limit games with it

Is this for real? I feel like that would be ridiculous, but I have no idea...LOL.

 

[BearMetal]

Behind every Casino $3 chip is a cage boss who's secretly a member on PCF...

 

[viet rounder]

I was planning on posting the same thing but more so about the $20 chip. It just seems to me that a $25 chip is much easier to count in stacks ($500 vs $400)

 

[ADS Aviator]

I think $20s were mainly used in games where there was a 5% commission on certain bets, such as Baccarat. 5% x $20 = $1. Which is easier for the casino, than 5% x $25 = $1.25

 

[moose]

Is this for real? I feel like that would be ridiculous, but I have no idea...LOL.

Hell yeah they do.

 

[coolguy101]

Odd denomination chips are only used in poker. You will never see them on the casino floor table games. Not even fracs. They just use regular fifty cent pieces and quarters.

 

[casinochipper22]

I was planning on posting the same thing but more so about the $20 chip. It just seems to me that a $25 chip is much easier to count in stacks ($500 vs $400)

Odd denom chips are used in limit poker games.

 

[ADS Aviator]

Odd denomination chips are only used in poker. You will never see them on the casino floor table games. Not even fracs. They just use regular fifty cent pieces and quarters.

I guess they didn't get the memo at Jerry's Nugget. Brand new $0.50 chips issued in 2020 & put in dealers trays at the Blackjack tables.

 

[coolguy101]

I guess they didn't get the memo at Jerry's Nugget. Brand new $0.50 chips issued in 2020 & put in dealers trays at the Blackjack tables.

View attachment 610685

I guess they didn't get the memo at Jerry's Nugget. Brand new $0.50 chips issued in 2020 & put in dealers trays at the Blackjack tables.

View attachment 610685

It’s unusual, and not the norm. Some casinos still use them, but they are certainly in the minority. I can’t remember the last time I saw one at a casino in vegas. Casinos used to use the silver dollars from the slot machines, but ever since they stopped using coins in slots, they have switched to chips.

 

[coolguy101]

I’d never step foot in Jerry’s anyway. I don’t go to those local casinos way off the strip. Downtown is as far north as I would venture.

 

[spellholly]

So I am still so new to this-- I mean I have been collecting chips since middle school and am 25 now but don't know the ins and outs. For baccarat and poker would you get in trouble for taking the chips out of the area- how does the "limit" work. Like I understand it is a limit on the betting per time around the table but is there some sort of cap on the chips on the buy in?

And this is more of a philosophical question, but why is it that these games have a different betting scheme than literally everything else? Is it just trying to find the sweet spot?

And what is the idea of checks vs coins on the table, one member told me some areas don't allow cash on the table, but is there any rational behind it for an exact 50¢ or 25¢ payout?

Also I am new here, Should I not be asking all these questions in one thread? Or wuld posting too many threads be anoying? I just don't want to be a pain.

 

[BonScot]

how does the "limit" work.

Congratulations my boy, you just asked the golden question...

Prepare to be amazed.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/limit-sets-limit-sets-more-limit-sets.14545/page-20

 

[B.C.]

Casinos have $3 chips because they're awesome

These are a couple of custom $3's which see use in some $1/3 games and in $3 a point Chinese poker games.

Used to love having stacks of the Wynn $3 in front of me their $1/3 game back in the day:

 

[cpiaaq]

So I am still so new to this-- I mean I have been collecting chips since middle school and am 25 now but don't know the ins and outs. For baccarat and poker would you get in trouble for taking the chips out of the area- how does the "limit" work. Like I understand it is a limit on the betting per time around the table but is there some sort of cap on the chips on the buy in?

And this is more of a philosophical question, but why is it that these games have a different betting scheme than literally everything else? Is it just trying to find the sweet spot?

And what is the idea of checks vs coins on the table, one member told me some areas don't allow cash on the table, but is there any rational behind it for an exact 50¢ or 25¢ payout?

Also I am new here, Should I not be asking all these questions in one thread? Or wuld posting too many threads be anoying? I just don't want to be a pain.

The $2, $3, and even $4 chips are used in limit poker because it simplifies the math and reduces the number of chips in play. That speeds up the game, which makes the casino more money. (faster hands = more hands per hour = more rake)

With table games like blackjack, you can't bet with your cash, you have to trade it for chips first. I've seen exceptions to this on roulette when someone walks by and drops a $100 bill on red or black. But mostly the casinos want to convert your cash to chips. For change, you can't just walk up to a table game and plop down a pocket full of quarters. But if you're playing a table and coins are used, to take a percent of the win in Pai Gow or to pay a blackjack, for instance, they will allow you to bet that change (betting minimums still apply).

 

[BonScot]

reduces the number of chips in play

Hmmmmmm

 

[RainmanTrail]

The $2, $3, and even $4 chips are used in limit poker because it simplifies the math and reduces the number of chips in play. That speeds up the game, which makes the casino more money. (faster hands = more hands per hour = more rake)

It's actually the opposite, although I get what you mean as opposed to them using $1 chips. The reason they spread $9/$18 to begin with is because they can get more chips in play using $3 chips than they would if they were to spread a $10/$20 game using $5s. The pots look larger in $9/$18 because there are more chips in the middle, thus it causes more action. More action leads to more players and more rake. And as everyone knows from Daniel Negreanu, "More rake is better".

I've also played a fair bit of $12/$24 games over the years using $3 chips.

 

[BonScot]

It's the opposite, although I get what you mean as opposed to them using $1 chips. The reason they spread $9/$18 to begin with is because they can get more chips in play using $3 chips than they would if they were to spread a $10/$20 game using $5s. The pots look larger in $9/$18 because there are more chips in the middle, thus it causes more action. More action leads to more players and more rake. And as everyone knows from Daniel Negreanu, "More rake is better".

I've also played a fair bit of $12/$24 games over the years using $3 chips.

You’re absolutely right. There’s something about a mountain of chips that just makes you want to throw more chips on the pile. First thing I’m doing after lockdown is organising a 4/8 limit game.

 

[Annorax]

You’re absolutely right. There’s something about a mountain of chips that just makes you want to throw more chips on the pile. First thing I’m doing after lockdown is organising a 4/8 limit game.

With custom $2 chips, of course

 

[BonScot]

With custom $2 chips, of course

Oh no no no. With these...

 

[upNdown]

Odd denomination chips are only used in poker. You will never see them on the casino floor table games. Not even fracs. They just use regular fifty cent pieces and quarters.

I’m not sure if you mis-spoke but lets be clear - the only poker games to use fracs are home games. They come from some table games that I’ve never played (pai gow maybe, I honestly have no idea) but The point is that fracs only exist to be used as payouts in some odd table games.
EDIT - this is true for my experiences in CT, MA, and NH. But as people have corrected me, some locations in other states use fracs for antes in low stakes stud games.

 

[Nanook]

It's actually the opposite, although I get what you mean as opposed to them using $1 chips. The reason they spread $9/$18 to begin with is because they can get more chips in play using $3 chips than they would if they were to spread a $10/$20 game using $5s. The pots look larger in $9/$18 because there are more chips in the middle, thus it causes more action. More action leads to more players and more rake. And as everyone knows from Daniel Negreanu, "More rake is better".

I've also played a fair bit of $12/$24 games over the years using $3 chips.

100% true....
At our card room way back when we 1st started back in 2000 they tried to spread 10/20 limit with $5 chips. Blinds are $5 & $10 in that game which is 1 & 2 chips. They call that a 2 chip structure game. The game lasted about 2 weeks and hasn't been spread since. 2 chip structure games do not tend to work well. As said above it doesn't look like many chips = no action = no fun and less rake. The game was switched to 8/16 limit which is a 4 chip structure game (2×$2 chips for the small blind and 4×$2 chips for the big blind) and that has been wildly successful ever since.

Card rooms don't like 5 chip structure games because all the chips start to get unwieldy for the dealers and slow things down, especially so if you are playing split pot games like O8 or Stud 8.

$3 chips for $9/18 & $12/$24 (fairly rare)
$4 chips - never seen it as they just go to $5
$5 chips for $15/$30 & $20/$40 limit
$10 chips for $30/$60 & $40/$80 limit
$20 chips for $60/$80 & $80/$160

I know opinions will vary with this, but limit is an excellent game and because the variance is much higher than it is in nl it tends be a better game for a mix of players with varying levels of skill. In the end, the best players & the card room get the money, but the weaker players have a better chance of getting lucky. This makes it more fun for the weaker players and tends to make for great games with LOTS of action.

 

[Nanook]

I’m not sure if you mis-spoke but lets be clear - the only poker games to use fracs are home games. They come from some table games that I’ve never played (pai gow maybe, I honestly have no idea) but The point is that fracs only exist to be used as payouts in some odd table games.

Mostly, but not 100% entirely true. In our card room. To this day they have a 2/4 stud game that uses 50c pieces for the antes. I know it is kind of a technicality, but still....
It is the ONLY game and it only goes 1x or maybe 2 times a week with the same 20 player, player pool.

 

[upNdown]

Mostly, but 100% entirely true. In our card room. To this day they have a 2/4 stud game that uses 50c pieces for the antes. I know it is kind of a technicality, but still....
It is the ONLY game and it only goes 1x or maybe 2 times a week with the same 20 player, player pool.

Fair enough. I’ve actually played 2/4 stud games that just don’t use antes, for lack of appropriate chips, and they’re poop.

 

[coolguy101]

I’m not sure if you mis-spoke but lets be clear - the only poker games to use fracs are home games. They come from some table games that I’ve never played (pai gow maybe, I honestly have no idea) but The point is that fracs only exist to be used as payouts in some odd table games.

I was talking more about $2, $2.50, $3, $20 chips, etc. those are only used in poker, and you don’t find those in regular table games. I have seen fracs used for rakes and dealer tips in poker. MOST casinos use actual coins for $.25 and $.50 for black Jack and such, but some do have chips.