Question on Horseshoe chips (2 Viewers)

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I’m new here and see many chips sell for $3-10 a piece.
some horseshoe chips are under $1/chip. But some are $3/chip. Can someone explain the difference to me.
I’m searching for a new set, would a horseshoe set for around $1/chip be a good inexpensive way to go?
Also what’s primary vs secondary mean?
Thanks
 
I’m new here and see many chips sell for $3-10 a piece.
some horseshoe chips are under $1/chip. But some are $3/chip. Can someone explain the difference to me.
I’m searching for a new set, would a horseshoe set for around $1/chip be a good inexpensive way to go?
Also what’s primary vs secondary mean?
Thanks

Higher denoms that were produced in smaller quantities fetch higher prices. Condition matters too. Mint chips in higher denoms can fetch $20+ per chip.

Primary vs secondary

If $1 per chip is 'inexpensive' to you that the Horseshoe Cleveland/Cincinattis are a fine choice. They're Paulson chips - so quality and prestige is built in. Much depends on your preferences... if you're not sure what you're looking for it's best to get samples and ask around. There are lots of knowledgeable folks here to help you make a decision.
 
Inexpensive is a relative term. Some people can afford to blow $5-15 per chip. Some people break at spending more than $150 for an entire playable set. What your chip needs are and what your budget is will determine what is reasonably available.

If you are set on Paulson type chips, $1/chip on average would likely be the very low end of what's readily available, poorer-to-mixed condition, and not for semi-customization. Any customization you want to do on top will add time and expense for preparation (inlay removal/hot stamp milling) and design (customized graphics, aftermarket label options).

I'll bet that a reasonable initial benchmark for a complete starter Paulson set would be about $2 per chip after all is said and done. There will be some that are cheaper. There will be plenty more which are more expensive.
 
Primary is the main set the casino uses in their daily operations, secondary is the back-up chip casinos have in case there is any compromise and they would need to substitute the secondary in for the primary. Legally required to have secondaries for a casino to operate. Secondaries tend to be in general better condition than primaries, some have never seen play in casino before the casino closed.

Some casinos used both primary and secondary in play previously as well.
 
Some additional info to explain the price difference is the different sets. There's Cincinnati, Cleveland, Binion's, and more, which are all different.

Within each of these sets also comes condition such as used or mint.
 
Higher denoms that were produced in smaller quantities fetch higher prices. Condition matters too. Mint chips in higher denoms can fetch $20+ per chip.

Primary vs secondary

If $1 per chip is 'inexpensive' to you that the Horseshoe Cleveland/Cincinattis are a fine choice. They're Paulson chips - so quality and prestige is built in. Much depends on your preferences... if you're not sure what you're looking for it's best to get samples and ask around. There are lots of knowledgeable folks here to help you make a decision.
I would much rather spend less than $1 chip and I was just going to get samples of Royals, Majestics, Dunes from Apache. But being on here for two weeks I saw a Horseshoe set of about 850 chips go for $600 so I figured I’d ask. If the Horseshoe Paulson is going to blow those other types I mentioned away they seem like the only Paulsons going for that low of a price so just figured I’d ask for feedback on them.
thanks
 
The Cleveland Horseshoe Paulsons are decent and should hold their value pretty well if you ever decided to sell and upgrade. They're not the only Paulsons in that price range though.

I think the Horseshoe chips are popular because of the abundance of $1 chips in the marketplace. There are lots of other choices... Empress Joliet & Garden City are a couple of obvious examples... but finding $1 chips to match is difficult since they're all seemingly being hoarded.
 
Very few Empress Casino $1 chips (primary or secondary) were made available relative to the volume of the larger denominations, especially those in very good condition. Not so much hoarding as just short supply.
 

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