Affordable chips + hotstamp (1 Viewer)

[Tonystark137]

I'm going back to edit the original post - 80 is an extreme that wouldn't happen for awhile. Starting out will be 20-30, maybe 40 max. I don't know the exact budget but if I had to guess, $200 USD for chips easily doable, absolute max $500 unless I'm told otherwise. I was under the mistaken impression from an old post that hot stamping was only a few cents per chip.

Can you give us an definition of what hot stamping means to your? or a picture of a hot stamped chips you have an image off?

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

34 cents apiece is about as inexpensive as you’ll find for a custom chip.
The trouble with writing in sharpie on a dice chip is that anyone can do that. Security is the problem there, as grandma’s closet is full of them, and they could easily be slipped into your game.

@Larold This right here. I think we are all assuming that the 7 digit (or whatever) mark that you are placing on the chips is for security? Is that correct? If so, and security is an important issue, then the last thing you want to do is buy the cheapest possible chip, that anyone can easily buy, then mark your security code on that chip with a sharpie. You might as well have no security at all.

Tina no molds are the easiest cheap way to do this.

The absolute cheapest way is to purchase cheap slugged chips that will take a one inch label, then self produce a unique label that you can laser print onto Avery labels, which can be bought in bulk for around 3-5 cents each. I did this myself 3.5 years ago when I was a super cheap tight ass. Quite a bit of work, but cheap if you do it all yourself. If you're truly interested, say so and I will point you to a couple of posts where I documented how I did this. You might be able to keep your total cost at under 20 cents a chip, and you'll have reasonable security that someone won't copy your design and print their own labels.

 

[Taghkanic]

Google tells me…

There are sites like the one below (which I have not used) which appear to offer stamped dice chip and similar low-end customized sets:

https://custommadecasino.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_73&product_id=56

You would probably need three 500 piece sets it sounds like, as the breakdown would be less than ideal, for a total cost of maybe $350 plus shipping.

These are very low quality chips by PCF standards. Yeah we’ve all played with ’em, once upon a time, in firehouses or Legion halls or dorm rooms… but came here to escape them.

Given your requirement of an 8-digit stamp, and the budget, I don’t think there are many other options, TBH.

I assume the numbered thing is some state charity gambling requirement? Seems pretty pointless.

 

[davislane]

https://gzlange.en.alibaba.com/prod...o_Poker_Chips.html?spm=a2700.shop_index.88.16

try reaching out to Lange on Alibaba. They are a reputable seller/manufacturer

 

[MeridianFC]

I just did a quick look. 1000 Super Diamonds are around $200.00 on Amazon. That's without any customization. And those chips are utter shit. I say that not as a chip snob but as someone who was forced to use them as a last minute emergency fill in for a 60 person game charity game (had been only a 30 person game previously). They will not stack to save your life and seem to go flying if you look at them wrong.

I realize this is a charity thing and the budget is what the budget is but the customization requirements vs. what is practical and would make for a good event seem to be in opposition to each other. If there is any chance of this being an established event trying to increase that budget will serve you best.

Another option might be to see if you can rent chips from somewhere. I know many larger cities have companies that run "casino" nights for charities and corporate events. It's a long shot but something to check out.

 

[MeridianFC]

I took a guess that this is rule book you are having to follow:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1403&ChapterID=25

Section 8 (5)
"A bank shall be established on the premises to convert currency into chips, scrip, or other form of play money which shall then be used to play at games of chance which the participant chooses. Chips, scrip, or play money must be permanently monogrammed with the supplier license number or logo or charitable games license number of a licensed organization or of the supplier. Each participant must be issued a receipt indicating the amount of chips, scrip, or play money purchased."

This would seem to suggest you can have a logo rather than a number. I don't think this greatly changes your problem which is one of budget, but still.

 

[Larold]

@Larold This right here. I think we are all assuming that the 7 digit (or whatever) mark that you are placing on the chips is for security? Is that correct? If so, and security is an important issue, then the last thing you want to do is buy the cheapest possible chip, that anyone can easily buy, then mark your security code on that chip with a sharpie. You might as well have no security at all.

Tina no molds are the easiest cheap way to do this.

The absolute cheapest way is to purchase cheap slugged chips that will take a one inch label, then self produce a unique label that you can laser print onto Avery labels, which can be bought in bulk for around 3-5 cents each. I did this myself 3.5 years ago when I was a super cheap tight ass. Quite a bit of work, but cheap if you do it all yourself. If you're truly interested, say so and I will point you to a couple of posts where I documented how I did this. You might be able to keep your total cost at under 20 cents a chip, and you'll have reasonable security that someone won't copy your design and print their own labels.

Documents sound great.

This is actually not for security, but more for security-theater / legal requirements. They would be for charitable gaming events. State law requires a license number be permanently marked on the chips. (Presumably for the purposes of security.) The threat of imported chips with the crowd we'd be limiting it to would be very low. I'm doing it for 100% legal reasons, security motivation is very low. (In almost all other circumstances, security consideration is legit but I won't want to get in to why this situation is unique.)

Thanks for the info!

 

[Larold]

I took a guess that this is rule book you are having to follow:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1403&ChapterID=25

Section 8 (5)
"A bank shall be established on the premises to convert currency into chips, scrip, or other form of play money which shall then be used to play at games of chance which the participant chooses. Chips, scrip, or play money must be permanently monogrammed with the supplier license number or logo or charitable games license number of a licensed organization or of the supplier. Each participant must be issued a receipt indicating the amount of chips, scrip, or play money purchased."

This would seem to suggest you can have a logo rather than a number. I don't think this greatly changes your problem which is one of budget, but still.

You nailed it.

There are two areas of the code I read (one not in that act) that sort of contradict each other. One requires the license number. The other, your segment, implies either / or. But yup - either way, a permanent marking is required.

 

[buzzmonkey]

• Assuming some tourneys will start with T5 as lowest denom and others are T25 lowest denom,

Do you have to do both? You can be far more economical if you do one or the other?

Is there a time constraint? How long will the game(s) be allowed to run?

Will there be rebuys or add-ons?

 

[Larold]

Do you have to do both? You can be far more economical if you do one or the other?

I should have phrased it differently - I'm not sure yet whether I want to do T5 or T25, but once I choose, I'll stick with it.

While I hadn't thought about it closely, I made the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that I would need roughly the same number of colors whether I start with T5s or T25s.

Is there a time constraint? How long will the game(s) be allowed to run?

Generally speaking, the types of folks playing in these tournaments won't want to play for more than 4-5 hours. I would probably even do a hard cap at 6.

Will there be rebuys or add-ons?

Almost certainly.

 

[Josh Kifer]

I should have phrased it differently - I'm not sure yet whether I want to do T5 or T25, but once I choose, I'll stick with it.

While I hadn't thought about it closely, I made the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that I would need roughly the same number of colors whether I start with T5s or T25s.


Generally speaking, the types of folks playing in these tournaments won't want to play for more than 4-5 hours. I would probably even do a hard cap at 6.


Almost certainly.

Do a T100, 30 players, you could do that with a smart breakdown that expands a hint without using megaton of chips.

 

[davislane]

Do a T100, 30 players, you could do that with a smart breakdown that expands a hint without using megaton of chips.

this +1.

plenty of threads on the benefits of T100 tournaments and their chip efficiency.

@BGinGA . in your experience in T100 the most efficient route to go?

 

[buzzmonkey]

I should have phrased it differently - I'm not sure yet whether I want to do T5 or T25, but once I choose, I'll stick with it.

While I hadn't thought about it closely, I made the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that I would need roughly the same number of colors whether I start with T5s or T25s.


Generally speaking, the types of folks playing in these tournaments won't want to play for more than 4-5 hours. I would probably even do a hard cap at 6.


Almost certainly.

Here's a sample tourney with 30 players and no rebuys, and 18 minute levels. This game would run just under 6 hours.

If everyone rebought twice and you made the levels 15 minutes you could go just barely over 6 hours.

You'll have to balance profit vs desirability. The game doesn't have to be the WSOP, but it has to be fun.

Blinds			Time
Level	Small	Big	BB Ante	Round Length	Time Elapsed	BBs	Change in BB
1	100	200	200	18	0.30	100.0
2	200	300	300	18	0.60	66.7	50%
3	200	400	400	18	0.90	50.0	33%
4	300	600	600	18	1.20	33.3	50%
5	400	800	800	18	1.50	25.0	33%
Break - Color 100s				10	1.67
6	500	1,000	1,000	18	1.97	20.0	25%
7	1,000	1,500	1,500	18	2.27	13.3	50%
8	1,000	2,000	2,000	18	2.57	10.0	33%
9	1,000	2,500	2,500	18	2.87	8.0	25%
10	1,500	3,000	3,000	18	3.17	6.7	20%
Break - Color 500s				10	3.33
11	2,000	4,000	4,000	18	3.63	5.0	33%
12	3,000	6,000	6,000	18	3.93	3.3	50%
13	4,000	8,000	8,000	18	4.23	2.5	33%
14	5,000	10,000	10,000	18	4.53	2.0	25%
15	5,000	15,000	15,000	18	4.83	1.3	50%
Break - Color 1000s				5	4.92
16	10,000	20,000	20,000	18	5.22	1.0	33%
17	15,000	25,000	25,000	18	5.52	0.8	25%
18	15,000	30,000	30,000	18	5.82	0.7	20%
19	20,000	40,000	40,000	18	6.12	0.5	33%
20	25,000	50,000	50,000	18	6.42	0.4	25%
Break				5	6.50
21	30,000	60,000	60,000	18	6.80	0.3	20%
22	40,000	80,000	80,000	18	7.10	0.3	33%
23	50,000	100,000	100,000	18	7.40	0.2	25%
24	60,000	120,000	120,000	18	7.70	0.2	20%
25	70,000	140,000	140,000	18	8.00	0.1	17%
Number of Players:	30
Starting Chips:	20,000
Round Levels	18
Total Chips in Play:	600,000
Est. end of tourney (BB):	30,000
Late buy-ins will be ended at the end of level 5

 

[buzzmonkey]

Ok, I think I have a minimum chip breakdown for you for 25k starting stacks. It will be a bit ugly early with people making change often, but it would technically work. The tournament director will have to be mindful of chip stacks when moving players to make sure they aren't pulling too much change off the table. So 1,072 chips would work technically, but If you could grab an extra 150 hundos and fifteen 1ks to color them up, that could make life a bit easier.

The breakdown allows enough 1ks to color up the 100s, enough 5ks to color 500s, enough 25ks to color the 1ks, plus 100 extra 5ks for your first 20 rebuys/add-ons and an extra 40 25k chips for the last 40 rebuys/add-ons.

Someone check my math to make sure I didn't miss something.