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Roulette Chips : Complete Guide | LeoVegas

Roulette Chips: Complete Guide

Anyone who has played or even watched a game of roulette knows that you need chips to play. But what exactly are these chips, and how are they used at casinos? We’ll walk you through all you need to know about these tokens, their value, and how to use them while playing at a roulette table.

Table of Content:

Handling Roulette Chips

Chips are crucial in any game of roulette. They represent your currency and come in different colours and values depending on the table you’re playing at. Regular casino chips, like the ones used for blackjack, have a respective value printed on them, but roulette chips don’t follow the same concept. The colour difference is there to distinguish your own chips from other players and their value is determined when you buy them from the croupier at the roulette table.

Chip Values and Colours

When buying chips at a roulette table, you get to specify the value of the chips. Typically, you might see chip values ranging from $1 to $100 or even higher, especially in high-stakes games.

The croupier will take your cash and in exchange, present you with a stack of chips in a colour that isn’t currently in use by any other player at the table. Be sure to remember the value of your chips. Even if other players’ chips look similar, the value of your chips is exclusive to you, based on the value you set when buying them.

Smooth Transactions: Buying and Picking Chips

To buy your chips, specify the value and then place your money on the table. The dealer will then exchange them for the right amount of chips, based on the value you’ve chosen. Another important aspect to keep in mind is how you handle your chips.

Always handle your chips smoothly and pick them up carefully by using your thumb and two fingers. Make sure you don’t drop them and if you’re counting them, do so calmly and discreetly without attracting unnecessary attention or delaying the game.

Placing Bets and Positioning Chips

When placing your roulette bets, you’ll need to position your chips on the table. Your chips need to be placed precisely in the right area, making sure the bet is clear for the croupier (or dealer) to see. Also, make sure to never touch or move other players’ chips, as this can muddle the game and even lead to potential disputes. If you’re not entirely sure of where to place your bet, you can ask the croupier to guide you rather than risk touching other people’s chips.

Cashing Out and Redeeming Chips

Once you’re done playing, let the croupier know that you’re ready to leave the table and are looking to cash out. The croupier will then exchange your roulette chips for casino chips that can be cashed out at the casino’s cashier cage. You must exchange your roulette chips for casino chips, as the former will not be of any value outside of the roulette table you played.

Don’t worry, a reputable croupier will ensure that you exchange your roulette chips before leaving the table. They are responsible for managing the chips and ensuring all transactions are handled properly.

Etiquette Tips

A final tip we recommend is to always get your bets in on time. During each round, the dealer will let you know when no more bets are allowed before spinning the roulette wheel and you’ll want to make sure your chips are correctly positioned before this final call.

Common Denominations of Roulette Chips

As we previously discussed, you can pick different values for your roulette chips based on the table you’re playing at. These different variations can be suited to different types of play, depending on your experience and budget.

The most common of the lot are the $1 chips, generally used by casual players and beginners. They can also be a great option for players who want to spread their bets across the table. One step up is the $5 chip which can be the perfect choice if you want to increase your stake without spending a lot of funds.

The betting starts to get more intense once $25 chips are introduced. They’re not usually used by casual players, but are ideal if you’d like to set fewer but higher bets. The $25 chip may be quite a high value for some, but most roulette tables offer chip values of up to $100. These tend to be used by high rollers - only go for them if you’re comfortable making substantial bets.

Should you decide to play at a high-stakes table, you’ll likely find chip values of $500 and even $1,000. They’re favoured by high rollers who are fairly confident in their judgment and can afford to take the potential loss. In some high-limit rooms and private games, you’ll also get chips worth $10,000, but these are only found at tables with incredibly high stakes, catering to the most elite roulette players.

Types of Roulette Chips

You’ll find several different types of roulette chips, depending on the casino and table you play at.

The most common are known as standard roulette chips. These are found at most roulette tables. They’re available in different colours to distinguish yours from another player and their value is set when you buy them. Step into a high-stakes or VIP game and you’re treated to premium roulette chips. They’re finer tokens made from better materials and tend to come with more intricate designs that create a more luxurious experience.

Custom roulette chips on the other hand are personalized for particular events, special games, and promotional offers. They generally come with limited availability and sport the logo or design of the event, or offer being promoted. Lastly, you’ll find the electronic roulette chips that are used in electronic versions of the game. These chips are automatically tracked by the game’s system making for even more accurate bets and payouts.

Design and Features of Roulette Chips

Since roulette chips ultimately come with a monetary value, they’re designed to be both functional and secure. The general design makes sure that they’re simple and easy to identify, with a smooth texture that helps you handle them efficiently. They also come in a selection of bright colours, making it even easier for croupiers to distinguish them and identify the player who made a particular bet.

Some casinos and private events will also tailor chips to specific needs, adding in custom options for logos, patterns, and colour schemes which can add a level of personalization and exclusivity to the game.

Security is another important feature in chips to prevent abuse and counterfeiting. Roulette chips come with serial numbers and at high-stakes tables, they’ll also have UV markings and RFID technology to preserve the security and integrity of the game.

History of Roulette Chips

We can trace the origin of roulette chips back to 18th-century France. Players would use everyday coins or tokens to place their bets and as the game became more popular, the appropriate tokens were standardized into today’s roulette chips.

Over time, chips got more sophisticated and by the 19th century, coloured roulette chips were brought into play to help differentiate and identify bets by player. As casinos became more popular around the world, chips were refined for better durability and ease of use.

In the 20th century, chips started to incorporate security features like serial numbers and RFID technology. These continued to enhance the game’s security, making sure casinos could better protect their games. In recent years, custom and premium chips are available, sporting more unique designs that make for an even more personal experience.

Roulette Chips FAQs

What chips do you use for roulette?

When playing roulette, you need to use specific roulette chips that are different from regular casino chips. These can only be purchased at the roulette table.

What are roulette chips worth?

You set the value of your roulette chips when you buy them at the roulette table of your choice. They can range from $1 to $100 and beyond, depending on the stakes of the table you’re playing at.

What colour is a $1,000 chip?

Regular casino $1,000 chips are usually yellow or gold. But roulette chips can come in different colours, as they’re not identical to the ones found in poker blackjack, or other casino table games.

What is a $100 chip called?

A $100 chip is generally referred to as a black chip, but this mostly applies to poker and regular casino chips, not roulette chips.

What colour is a $10,000 chip?

A regular casino $10,000 chip is purple, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to roulette chips as they come in different colours to the ones found in poker, blackjack, and other classic casino table games.

How do casinos know if chips are real?

Casinos use radio frequency identification tags (RFIT) and UV-activated ink to verify the legitimacy of chips at their venue.

Can you walk out of a casino with chips?

Roulette chips, however, are specific to a roulette table and the croupier will exchange them for regular casino chips when you decide it's time to end your time at the table.

Can you take roulette chips home?

Roulette chips are specific to a casino and a specific roulette table within it. Typically, the croupier will exchange them for regular casino chips immediately, when you're ready to leave the game.