If you've been looking around at your options when it comes to poker chips, there are probably a few things you've noticed. For one, the professional players tend to prefer casino style poker chips made from real clay over plastic ones, composite or PVC chips with metal weights, and other options. That's because casino grade chips are made to be uniform, hefty enough not to slip, and made to stack well. They're so well weighted that you can even perform tricks with them! However, looking at clay poker chips also tells you something else about them. Purchased new, these chips are pretty expensive. While a dollar a chip might not seem like a lot, it really adds up when you realize that even small games need a set of a hundred chips. Larger sets can be more than a thousand chips, making a set of real clay casino tokens a pretty big investment.
That means that a lot of people wonder if there's another option. Can cheaper chips be found, or are used chips available? The answer to both questions is yes, but it's a qualified yes. Cheaper chips are available, but you have to make some sacrifices. Used clay casino poker chips are rare. Most people, after they make this kind of investment, like to hold on to their chips sets. That means that most used poker sets you see on Ebay and other sites are vintage. These chips are charming and have great atmosphere, but range from being only a little less expensive than new casino chips to costing even more. It's also hard to get a complete set of older clay poker chips.
Thinking about substitutes? You'll certainly see plenty of chips, mostly manufactured abroad, labeled "casino". However, these are almost always heavier than real casino chips, and are composed largely of plastics. That makes them slick, and gives them a feel that many poker players dislike. Stackability is also sacrificed when you buy these chips, and they're a little larger than the real thing. While that doesn't make these cheaper chips unusable, you should know what you're getting when you order them. Otherwise, you could find yourself disappointed.
In the long run, it's best to save up for a real set of casino poker chips made of clay. Used sets are hard to find, and cut rate chips offer cut rate quality. For the time being, it's not bad to use a cheaper set, until you can afford a nicer one, but once you use real casino type chips, you'll understand why they're the professional standard.
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