Primary vs Secondary (2 Viewers)

[BooRayUSA]

Im sure this has been asked but my search turned up nadda so I'm gonna ask

See threads stating Primary Chips and Secondary Chip sets

What's the difference between this classes and how can one tell if you have a primary or secondary?

 

[Rhodeman77]

Primary chips are the set of chips in use currently at any given casino. The secondary set is a back up set that is held in reserve in case the primary set gets compromised in some way.

When past sets have hit the home market secondary sets are usually more sought after because they oftens times are in mint condition having never been put in play.

 

[BooRayUSA]

Primary chips are the set of chips in use currently at any given casino. The secondary set is a back up set that is held in reserve in case the primary set gets compromised in some way.

When past sets have hit the home market secondary sets are usually more sought after because they oftens times are in mint condition having never been put in play.

That makes perfect sense. Is there a way to tell the difference between the sets less the condition? I see secondary sets for sale and how can you confirm they are what they are

 

[Psypher1000]

Is there a way to tell the difference between the sets less the condition?

Not readily, no. For the most part that's tribal knowledge. I'm not sure if the chips are specifically listed as primary vs. secondary in the price guide that David Spragg sells, though.

Sometimes you can't even tell by condition. Take the Empress chips, for instance. The sharpest $25's out there that I've seen are from the primary set, and the general population of secondary $25's are in slightly worse shape than the general lot of primary $25's. Conversely, the sharpest $5's are from the secondary lot. Neither batch of $1's is very sharp at all (although the secondaries are generally in better condition, they're still pretty beat up for the most part).

 

[guinness]

That makes perfect sense. Is there a way to tell the difference between the sets less the condition? I see secondary sets for sale and how can you confirm they are what they are

Well, if its not obvious yet, secondaries have different colors/spots. Its not like secondaries are just copies of primaries. You know which is what based on what is published online either here or other chip catalog sites like the chip board.

 

[slisk250]

Go to chipguide.com

They list secondary chips as a "backup" chip in some cases but there could be errors and many have no indication. Check the notes made to the right of the chip image.

 

[BooRayUSA]

Go to chipguide.com

They list secondary chips as a "backup" chip in some cases but there could be errors and many have no indication. Check the notes made to the right of the chip image.

I just found the resources section here and found that sight as well which is a great knowledge base

 

[Oggy]

thank you very interesting!

 

[upNdown]

Not readily, no. For the most part that's tribal knowledge. I'm not sure if the chips are specifically listed as primary vs. secondary in the price guide that David Spragg sells, though.

Sometimes you can't even tell by condition. Take the Empress chips, for instance. The sharpest $25's out there that I've seen are from the primary set, and the general population of secondary $25's are in slightly worse shape than the general lot of primary $25's. Conversely, the sharpest $5's are from the secondary lot. Neither batch of $1's is very sharp at all (although the secondaries are generally in better condition, they're still pretty beat up for the most part).

I've always wondered that about the empress chips. They must have been put inot play at the casino, and for years, right? I mean no chips get worn like that in home games.

 

[maxim_666666]

very often the primary set is more complete. 1 - 5 - 25 - 100 - 500 - 1000 - ...
while the secondary can only start from 25 - 100 - 500 - 1000
this is such a privilege for a casino ... the law obliges to have a secondary set, but it allows not to waste on small chips 0,25 - 1 - 5 ...
so that you can simply not find in the secondary set of chips that you need.

 

[MarquetteMonkey]

Glad I found this thread with an explanation. Helpful for a newbie like me.

A related question - what is the process of casino chips getting into the home market? I assume there is a wholesaler of some kind, but how frequently do casino chip sets make the transition to the home market and how is that communicated to the community here?

Thanks!

 

[BGinGA]

... what is the process of casino chips getting into the home market?

I assume there is a wholesaler of some kind, but how frequently do casino chip sets make the transition to the home market and how is that communicated to the community here?

Lots of different ways, and usually dependent upon location -- as different gaming authorities have different regulations regarding obsolete chips and disposal (or release).

Sometimes obsolete casino sets are destroyed (NV, MS), other times they are sold by closed card room owners or creditors (WA), and sometimes purchases are brokered by people or companies in negotiatons with the casino, creditors, and/or gaming authority (MO, IN, IL, OH).

Usually large casino set buy-outs will show up here for resale, but not always. They also are offered on other auction/sales sites, like eBay or even craigslist.

 

[shahnuli]

Thanks! Great info!

 

[philhut]

Interesting. I thought the primary/secondary idea in addition to having a backup set in case of compromise would be a way to stock and later introduce the new/next set of chips into play. Eventually casino's replace their worn chips and i'd assume set # 3 (let's call it tertiary) would be ordered and will have arrived. Then either new set #3 or the secondary set could be put into action as the then new primary set and the tertiary becomes secondary etc.... Then over the next hours, day or weeks (not sure as I don't work in casino's to have a reference time) the original primary would be taken out of play with a cut off date for honouring payout of the now defunct old primary set.

 

[BGinGA]

Simpler to just order more primary chips when the originals wear out.

 

[BELGRADE]

For tournament chips I always feel strange to use secondary word.
I prefer to say the side even set that the secondary tournament set.
It seems to me that the word secondary should only be used for cash game chips. We have never seen a casino do tournament secondaries to put them in the safe, well I think.

For me :
Primary cash chips
Sec cash chips ( never use)

Tournament chips set
Side even Tournament set