Do live chips need to be declared when cross US/Canada border? (1 Viewer)

[grantc54]

As a Canadian if I harvest or purchase live poker chips while in the US do they need to be declared when I cross back over to Canada?

Wouldn't it be the same as currency?

Thanks,
Grant

 

[Mesnik44]

When I came home from Vegas, I had poker chips and they said how much, I chose to say what it cost to make them, not to actually buy them.

 

[DrStrange]

Live chips are considered a form of currency. If the face value is significant, then you should declare the chips as if they were cash.

Several years ago, I was traveling back from Salt Lake City with a set of chips from the Palomar card room in San Diego. I was stopped as usual going through security, expecting to get a GSR test and an inspection. What I got instead was a discussion about live vs vintage and a quick check for face value. Once the agent found almost all of the chips were $5 and under - mostly ones and fraction chips - I passed through without incident.

Thank goodness it wasn't some tournament set with high face value chips. That likely would have lead to a longer, much less pleasant talk with TSA.

This is my small stakes traveling set from the Palomar card room.

028

• DrStrange
• Jul 15, 2015

After cleaning/oiling

035

• DrStrange
• Jul 15, 2015

315 chips, ready to travel

 

[grantc54]

Right. But what about the opposite. If I convert a few hundred of my $ into chips then do I have anything to declare?

For example, I go down with $600 USD and return with $200 USD and $400 in live chips all under 24 hours. Since it is all currency then there is nothing to declare (if I was bringing back goods I would have to declare and pay duty ags I don't need duty free allowances).

Thanks
Grant

 

[Lemonzest]

I would declare live chips the same as currency in terms of dollar value. You can't bring more than 10k cash without declaring it (IIRC). so if you bring 5k of chips you wouldn't need to declare it.

Now if they ask you if you are bringing any"thing" back then that is a bit more of a complicated question to answer.

 

[MatB]

Poker chips are not a currency.

Live chips have a face value in the casino they came from. US Customs care about live chips because a $500 chip is worth $500 (but only in the casino it came from)

 

[grantc54]

Poker chips are not a currency.

Live chips have a face value in the casino they came from. US Customs care about live chips because a $500 chip is worth $500 (but only in the casino it came from)

Thanks for clarifying.

Grant