How to order custom poker chips (1 Viewer)

[bigjoepoker]

Hey everyone! I'm pretty new here and am looking to order a nice set of chips for a home game that I host but have never had custom chips before. I see everyone saying Tina Chips and found them on Alibaba but not sure exactly what is best for my home game. Looking for advice on clay vs ceramic, what the weight of the chips should be, and how to design a custom chip graphic. Like I said I'm new and looking for all help. If you could attach photos of your chips for reference that would be awesome!

 

[Rock31]

@justincarothers runs monthly group buys in the Broken Arrow vendor section, go take a look there everything you need is posted.

 

[QuietMaple]

• Tina Chips
  • The easiest way to purchase them is through Broken Arrow's (aka Justin's) monthly group buy (you send an order to Justin, Justin puts in an order with Tina, Tina ships the chips to him, and then he re-ships to you).
  • Justin has many pre-designed sets you can choose from, or you can design your own chips with a tool I created: https://chipmaticstudio.com
  • You could order from Tina directly, but you would need to provide the print-ready art files yourself, and I believe you need to order at least 10,000 chips to qualify for ocean freight, otherwise you'll need to pay for air shipping (often like $100 or more I think), and also deal with language barriers.
• Clay vs Ceramic
  • The only company that makes clay chips and sells direct to consumers (Classic Poker Chips) hasn't been in operation for ~1 year while they relocate their factory, so there isn't currently any way to order custom clay chips. People who want custom clay right now would purchase defunct/retired casino chips and then relabel them
  • Clay chips are considerably more expensive than ceramic, but many (most?) prefer the feel
  • There are other companies besides Tina who sell ceramics such as BRPro and Matsui
• Inspiration
  • The chip DB
  • Hall of Fame
  • Pre-designed sets sold through Broken Arrow

 

[BigGrizz]

To be honest, I'm also having doubts as to CPC reopening sadly.

 

[BKisback]

There are other companies besides Tina who sell ceramics such as BRPro and Matsui

Matsui may do this, but afaik their chip lines are all plastic save for some true compression clay many years ago.

 

[Old State]

Ordering “Tina” chips isn’t intuitive for someone new to this but that’s what I’d recommend. Don’t be in a rush and ask questions

As for the custom chips options….

I own full custom clay chips from CPC (actually from 23 years ago when they were called something else!). I also own ceramics through BrPro. AND I have a set of “Tina’s” and another on the way.

“Tina” chips are a monthly group buy organized via a member here. It’s not a store and you are not going to get art proofs etc. They are very inexpensive for what they are and very nice though.

I’d specifically recommend their “hybrids” where it’s a ceramic chip that look and feel very close to clay chips and even has a label like a clay chip. The new chip design tool is amazing and makes it super fun and addictive

Take time to look at sets and search here for threads on chip set denomination breakdowns for the stakes you play. Learn what chips tend to look like. You can literally order anything but I think it’s always “cooler” to have a set that looks close to what a casino would have…especially if it it’s your first set. I recommend buying traditional colors for denominations


BrPro chips are also nice and are traditional ceramic chip (similar to what many casinos use…though the major still use clay chips). They are in the US and you can deal with a designer and get proofs. They are rough 2x the price of “Tina” chips…but you will get them in 2 weeks vs 3 months

 

[KHarp1]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/new-members-start-here.85303/

Here's a pretty good link of how new

 

[Frode789]

though the major still use clay chips

Not in Europe. Ceramic is much more common here.

 

[Old State]

Not in Europe. Ceramic is much more common here.

Hmm. I have seen that on TV but wasn’t sure becasue it’s all tournament content. Maybe because Paulson is US based and European casino are getting hate or chips mostly from Asia

 

[Coyote]

Or tariffs from the US

 

[BigGrizz]

I was going to point out that Paulsons are made in San Luis, Mexico, but its likely that all their chips go out of US ports regardless of destination. Shipping them laterally across Mexico would likely not be a great idea right now...

 

[cpac54]

Hmm. I have seen that on TV but wasn’t sure becasue it’s all tournament content. Maybe because Paulson is US based and European casino are getting hate or chips mostly from Asia

Clay chips are certainly the exception over here. GPI/Angel has a base in France, but it’s almost all BJ or B&G stuff from them over here. Aside from that, lots of Matsui, Abbiati and even Sunfly over here.

 

[Old State]

Or tariffs from the US

Did you mean tariffs on the US? He was talking about importing clay (assuming Paulson) chips into Europe

I was going to point out that Paulsons are made in San Luis, Mexico, but it’s likely that all their chips go out of US ports regardless of destination. Shipping them laterally across Mexico would likely not be a great idea right now...

Yes, I assumed Paulson chips are US goods despite being made in Mexico…..but I guess they could ship directly from there.

 

[Coyote]

Did you mean tariffs on the US? He was talking about importing clay (assuming Paulson) chips into Europe

Yes, I assumed Paulson chips are US goods despite being made in Mexico…..but I guess they could ship directly from there.

Yes.

 

[BigGrizz]

Yes, I assumed Paulson chips are US goods despite being made in Mexico…..but I guess they could ship directly from there.

That would probably actually be difficult. Their factory is literally 3 blocks from the US border in a relatively isolated town. To export direct via Mexico would mean shipping to Mexicali for air freight or to Tijuana for ocean freight. The roads between those are doable but a bit sketchy. They absolutely can't move them East as that would send the shipment into the heart of cartel country. Really the only safe bet is to go through the US border and drive them to Phoenix or San Diego depending on direction of travel (or to Yuma for rail travel).