The amount of lead in Aztar chips. (5 Viewers)

[maxim_666666]

@ovo wrote in this thread that the amount of lead in Aztar chips varies from chip to chip.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/casino-aztar-indiana-919-chips-paulson.131868/post-2701881
So I decided to check it out and it looks like he's right.

The weight doesn't depend on chip wear or size. (wear is the same, I checked it.)
And judging by what I see, I can say that they were indeed from different batches. It seems that the $100 and $5 (on the right) were produced earlier (during the lead era), and the green ones were probably the same. I associate the light weight of the green ones with the characteristics of the material.
Then there was some batch (the middle part) weighing 10 grams, where they tried to reduce the amount of lead in the chips. For some reason, they stood out especially.
And then they additionally produced $5 (top left), which still weighed from 9.2 to 9.6 grams and were also partially lead.
670 chips...

And 6 chips on the right... Official casino weight.

 

[OfficerLovejoy]

Beautiful data! Thank you for sharing.

 

[Frogzilla]

@ovo wrote in this thread that the amount of lead in Aztar chips varies from chip to chip.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/casino-aztar-indiana-919-chips-paulson.131868/post-2701881
So I decided to check it out and it looks like he's right.
View attachment 1508194
The weight doesn't depend on chip wear or size. (wear is the same, I checked it.)
And judging by what I see, I can say that they were indeed from different batches. It seems that the $100 and $5 (on the right) were produced earlier (during the lead era), and the green ones were probably the same. I associate the light weight of the green ones with the characteristics of the material.
Then there was some batch (the middle part) weighing 10 grams, where they tried to reduce the amount of lead in the chips. For some reason, they stood out especially.
And then they additionally produced $5 (top left), which still weighed from 9.2 to 9.6 grams and were also partially lead.
View attachment 1508195View attachment 1508196
And 6 chips on the right... Official casino weight.
View attachment 1508202

This is the most beautiful graph I’ve ever seen

 

[ovo]

nice job, I was gonna get more technical myself, but it was too much work and some heartache

 

[ovo]

As far as the green 25's go, you have to have an understanding that day green is generally going to be lighter than other colors, given the same composition. Certain colors are lighter in weight than others

 

[ovo]

Here is my original post back in April

• Apr 26, 2025

• 
  
• Add bookmark
• #1

I've been working on organizing my chips, still on the A chips. I was going over my Casino Aztar chips, both Caruthersville and Evansville. I like to weigh them, and I was nitpicking best quality to try and get an idea on top possible weight, since I have mixed quality. Aztar Caruthersville primary dollars had variations with similar quality, so I started thinking different runs, and since the casino was open during the leaded and unleaded era, it really starts to make sense. But does everyone think about that ? I have racks of secondary which are mint, so I didn't bother weighing each one, as I feel they are all from one run, but I pull out my Aztar Evansville and I have two racks of secondary casino used, they all look pretty similar in quality and I find weights from 9.60 to 10.60, and it's been around during leaded and unleaded era. So I weigh them all and have to figure out where to cut the weight off, from leaded to unleaded. I just went with 10.20 and up and rest below and about 50% are leaded, but when they are all mixed in, it really doesn't show. I mean, all this makes sense, but how many people have a drug scale and weigh every chip ? I figure dollars probably have the most variation, since they have to replace them the most, but 5's are probably up there too.

So in conclusion, give thought to the idea that leaded racks might unknowingly be mixed with unleaded chips if the casino ran in both eras. It's just interesting to think about.

 

[dizzyChipper]

Dibs 11.7 gram chip.

 

[ekricket]

@ovo wrote in this thread that the amount of lead in Aztar chips varies from chip to chip.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/casino-aztar-indiana-919-chips-paulson.131868/post-2701881
So I decided to check it out and it looks like he's right.
View attachment 1508194
The weight doesn't depend on chip wear or size. (wear is the same, I checked it.)
And judging by what I see, I can say that they were indeed from different batches. It seems that the $100 and $5 (on the right) were produced earlier (during the lead era), and the green ones were probably the same. I associate the light weight of the green ones with the characteristics of the material.
Then there was some batch (the middle part) weighing 10 grams, where they tried to reduce the amount of lead in the chips. For some reason, they stood out especially.
And then they additionally produced $5 (top left), which still weighed from 9.2 to 9.6 grams and were also partially lead.
View attachment 1508195View attachment 1508196
And 6 chips on the right... Official casino weight.
View attachment 1508202

I think for some colors they used the leaded clay/supplies they had until it ran out, and for some of the less used colors it took a bit. I also think they recycle the scrap bits from pressing, so even if they switched to non leaded colors they probably were mixing leaded scraps into the new formula.

 

[JWC]

@ovo wrote in this thread that the amount of lead in Aztar chips varies from chip to chip.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/casino-aztar-indiana-919-chips-paulson.131868/post-2701881
So I decided to check it out and it looks like he's right.
View attachment 1508194
The weight doesn't depend on chip wear or size. (wear is the same, I checked it.)
And judging by what I see, I can say that they were indeed from different batches. It seems that the $100 and $5 (on the right) were produced earlier (during the lead era), and the green ones were probably the same. I associate the light weight of the green ones with the characteristics of the material.
Then there was some batch (the middle part) weighing 10 grams, where they tried to reduce the amount of lead in the chips. For some reason, they stood out especially.
And then they additionally produced $5 (top left), which still weighed from 9.2 to 9.6 grams and were also partially lead.
View attachment 1508195View attachment 1508196
And 6 chips on the right... Official casino weight.
View attachment 1508202

What is the definition of “official casino weight?”

 

[maxim_666666]

I think for some colors they used the leaded clay/supplies they had until it ran out, and for some of the less used colors it took a bit. I also think they recycle the scrap bits from pressing, so even if they switched to non leaded colors they probably were mixing leaded scraps into the new formula.

It's hard to say. But I was really surprised how clearly they split into 3 groups. The $25 has absolutely amazing feel and when I played with them I would never have thought that they were a whole gram lighter. But I have to admit that they are all very very very nice chips, although I don't really believe in all these lead improvements, I have to admit that there is something in it...

 

[maxim_666666]

What is the definition of “official casino weight?”

Buddy... It's like you're here for the first time... ;-)
https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/poker/casino-grade-poker-chips-ultimate-guide/

 

[JWC]

Buddy... It's like you're here for the first time... ;-)
https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/poker/casino-grade-poker-chips-ultimate-guide/

Well, that settles it.

 

[maxim_666666]

Well, that settles it.

By the way, this is a bit funny and incomprehensible. I measured the "officials" with a micrometer. It can detect a difference of 0.0003937008 inches. And all these 6 chips on the right, which are 1 gram heavier than the others, were of a completely standard diameter and thickness for a clay chip and were no different from the others.