Harvesting chips (2 Viewers)

[Spacehawk]

I am wanting to try and harvest some poker chips from a local casino. I have always kept chips when I play but never tried to build whole racks. Am I going to get on the radar if I am trying to leave the poker room with lets say a barrel of chips at a time?

 

[mikem_nyc]

Following, I’m curious as well. Like has anyone been banned for harvesting?

 

[Spacehawk]

Following, I’m curious as well. Like has anyone been banned for harvesting?

lol thats what i am trying to figure out, can i just walk out with a whole rack or do I have to be more lowkey

 

[chipzilla]

Here’s an old thread with lots chippers stories in harvesting. It’s from 2022 but maybe still good info especially since WSOP just started.

Thread 'Harvesting Paris Chips - Tell Us Your Story!'
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/harvesting-paris-chips-tell-us-your-story.91173/

 

[GreatWhiteDope]

My only attempt at harvesting consisted of walking up to the cage at the Venetian poker room and asking for a rack of $2 chips. While the attendant looked at me a little funny, she gave me the rack. I put it under my sweatshirt until I was done playing and left with it. And as fate would have it, the chips were all in pretty good condition. Pretty much did the same thing the next day at Paris for $1's and $5's. Came home with five racks of chips, no questions asked. So from my perspective, harvesting is the simplest thing on earth.

Now I have to go read the thread above to see if I am just stupid, lucky or both.

 

[chipinla]

 

[xdan]

backpack.
Load it up and walk out.

I did last year and plan to do the same again.

Worst case they will tell you to cash them in. Doubt they’d ban you.

I’d just say ‘I’m playing everyone and keeping them as I play. Saves me cashing in and out’
Play it innocently and you’ll be right.

 

[Spacehawk]

backpack.
Load it up and walk out.

I did last year and plan to do the same again.

Worst case they will tell you to cash them in. Doubt they’d ban you.

I’d just say ‘I’m playing everyone and keeping them as I play. Saves me cashing in and out’
Play it innocently and you’ll be right.

Seems simple enough but i am trying to also grab a rack of snappers

 

[soccerdadof3]

Snappers are usually more difficult in my experience..you usually have to get them at the table games a couple at a time..get a couple put them in your pocket..repeat...hope you don't burn your bankroll before you get what you want.. lol

 

[Spacehawk]

Snappers are usually more difficult in my experience..you usually have to get them at the table games a couple at a time..get a couple put them in your pocket..repeat...hope you don't burn your bankroll before you get what you want.. lol

its simple really sit down buy in all $5s. play one hand. ask to color down. leave

 

[greenchip]

Most likely you’re fine if you’re playing poker. If they ask, say I like to collect chips. That’s a legitimate reason to bring chips home if you brought it. People here bring racks out, including myself when I was harvesting chips.

If no poker, like others mentioned, you have to get maybe 10-20 at a time or they’ll get pissed their table has a shortage on a specific denomination, often fracs and snappers. Repeat and ask dealers you want nice chips, tip if they cooperate with you.

If you they ask why you’re leaving? I’ve always said “I don’t feel the luck so I need to switch tables.” No questions asked.

For non-Vegas casinos, if the cage is nice then they’ll sell you a rack of fracs or snappers. Success rate is low but worth trying. Always tip if successful. This does not work in Vegas.

I’ve done the above mainly from blackjack and baccarat tables from over 100 casinos in the US.

 

[elemeno]

If you’re playing poker, it should be very easy to get racks of chips

 

[chipchipchip]

I'll add that when I did this a few years ago, I played at Caesar's for 3-4 days and got three racks in great condition (two racks of reds and one rack of the blue hotstamp $1's). Ask the cashier for as many $1's as they'll give you, depending on the person and how busy they may or may not accommodate. I played 1/3 and always posted blinds with $5's and steadily grew my $1's stack folding blinds and getting change. While playing, I sorted the good condition from the bad and placed all my bets with the poor condition chips. As you win pots, sort the new ones. Then pocket the good chips and cash out the bads. Repeat until you have what you want. Just don't get stacked lol

Some dealers will ask you to color up your $1's. Just say "no thanks I like how they look in my stack." No one will care. Also if you can find a limit game you can just buy in for racks of $1's usually, but those games aren't that common anymore.

I also got a rack of $1's from Ellis Island playing craps. It's easy to just pocket whatever you want to keep. Make the bets that pay out in uneven odds (4 or 10 pay 9:5 for instance). I think the table games will notice more and care more since they don't get fresh setups as often as poker, but unless you're at the same table all day I doubt it will matter. If anyone says anything just say you're saving it for the cocktail server tips. Probably took me around four hours to get a rack of good $1's that way.

I know it feels like you're doing something wrong, but once I started it was just no big deal at all. This is probably one of the *least* weird things that dealers and the floor will run into in a typical casino.

Good luck!

 

[Blinders]

I have been harvesting for years and if you keep it low key, no one is ever going to notice. For poker, find somewhere that spreads limit, and buy-in for 3-4 racks of $1s. Then while you are playing, sort out the best chips. Then whenever you are ready, leave the table and pocket all the good chips as you walk to the cage to cash out the bad chips. Easy to get over a rack this way every time depending on condition. If you have to play no limit the advice above on how to accumulate the $1 chips is perfect.

Lately though, I have been harvesting playing Craps using the "Dead Man's Hedge" play extension strategy. You can harvest 20-30 chips an hour with ease and your expected loss will be well below $5/hour. Just pocket a 3-6 chips when a seven out happens and the dealers are busy clearing the table. When a dealer shift happens pocket as many as you want. Just keep changing out $5s for $1s as you get low on $1s which is normal and will not be questioned. While not many casinos spread poker, most spread Craps, so you can get just about any chips you want that way and they will likely be in better condition than poker chips.

Blackjack works well if you can find a $1 or $3 table. You can do it at $5/$10/$15 tables by changing out $5s for $1s and betting odd amounts that will accumulate $1s. Pocket 3-6 chips when the dealer is shuffling, or as many as you want on dealer changes.

Lot's of harvesters are more aggressive and work the cage or get the dealers or other players involved, but that's never been my style. The casinos generally are not going to care unless you are grabbing fractional chips which they would to lose money on. It's pure profit for them if you harvest anything above a $1 chip. I have never been caught or questioned, and have harvested 10s of thousands of Paulsons.

 

[Spacehawk]

I have been harvesting for years and if you keep it low key, no one is ever going to notice. For poker, find somewhere that spreads limit, and buy-in for 3-4 racks of $1s. Then while you are playing, sort out the best chips. Then whenever you are ready, leave the table and pocket all the good chips as you walk to the cage to cash out the bad chips. Easy to get over a rack this way every time depending on condition. If you have to play no limit the advice above on how to accumulate the $1 chips is perfect.

Lately though, I have been harvesting playing Craps using the "Dead Man's Hedge" play extension strategy. You can harvest 20-30 chips an hour with ease and your expected loss will be well below $5/hour. Just pocket a 3-6 chips when a seven out happens and the dealers are busy clearing the table. When a dealer shift happens pocket as many as you want. Just keep changing out $5s for $1s as you get low on $1s which is normal and will not be questioned. While not many casinos spread poker, most spread Craps, so you can get just about any chips you want that way and they will likely be in better condition than poker chips.

Blackjack works well if you can find a $1 or $3 table. You can do it at $5/$10/$15 tables by changing out $5s for $1s and betting odd amounts that will accumulate $1s. Pocket 3-6 chips when the dealer is shuffling, or as many as you want on dealer changes.

Lot's of harvesters are more aggressive and work the cage or get the dealers or other players involved, but that's never been my style. The casinos generally are not going to care unless you are grabbing fractional chips which they would to lose money on. It's pure profit for them if you harvest anything above a $1 chip. I have never been caught or questioned, and have harvested 10s of thousands of Paulsons.

Thanks I am on the hunt for a rack of snappers so it will be interesting to see how long it takes

 

[Blinders]

Thanks I am on the hunt for a rack of snappers so it will be interesting to see how long it takes

This is not something I have tried, but at blackjack you could say to the dealer that "I like to tip with the $2.50 chips", and then buy $20 worth of them. You would need to run some $2.50 tips for the dealer with your hand. Then on a dealer change, pocket what you have, or just later walk with all your chips saying you are moving to a different table. Then do the same with next dealer/table. @dizzyChipper is a bit more aggressive with the harvesting and he has a great story where even the pit boss was helping him get snappers from all the open BJ tables. Legendary!

 

[rum3002576]

no issues at any of the casinos ive played at but thats only two. i get the from blackjack table and poker room

 

[Colquhoun]

I remember reading something here on PCF a while back that was brilliant.
Go to the cashier and say that you are having a wedding in the area later in the year and are planning on giving chips as party favors for a casino night party (or reception, rehearsal dinner, etc) at this casino. You’d love it if you could get 100+ of (insert denomination here), and great condition chips would be best.

 

[ekricket]

I remember reading something here on PCF a while back that was brilliant.
Go to the cashier and say that you are having a wedding in the area later in the year and are planning on giving chips as party favors for a casino night party (or reception, rehearsal dinner, etc) at this casino. You’d love it if you could get 100+ of (insert denomination here), and great condition chips would be best.

I did this several times, and specially for pink chips. I say I’m planning the bachelor party and a poker game will happen and the “pink chips” would work great. And I promise to bring them back after the wedding.

I actually harvested 500 618 pink/white fifty centers from indigo sky. They only have these to pay the ante at the table games usually. I tried to sell a few racks, nobody interested at the time (7+ yrs ago) so I kept two racks and returned three racks in gallon baggies. The cage had to call a manager as they thought I was as doing something scammy, - cashing in their chips. I told him I got them for a wedding and it was over. That was as a long time ago and chipping was way different back then.

But the two racks are in my mixed rhc set, all 1/8 spots.