The 10 Best Poker Chip Sets
This wiki has been updated 39 times since it was first published in September of 2015. Has Texas Hold 'Em got a hold on you? Then check out our selection of poker chip sets. We've included something for every level of player, from the penny-a-hand types who just play for fun right up to the Las Vegas professionals who demand heavyweight pieces that provide a good feel in the hand and a satisfying clunk when dropped in the pot. They come conveniently packaged for storage, too. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Slowplay Nash
2. Trademark Poker Dice Style
3. Claysmith Gaming Mint
Editor's Notes
April 22, 2021:
Poker chips are used in lieu of cash during games for several reasons, they speed up the game and make it easy for the players to identify the bet amount and pot size. Generally speaking, a 300-chip set will meet the needs of a 7-8 person game, and 500 chips are easily sufficient for 9-10 people. Authentic casino chips are usually made from a clay composite, which gives them heft and makes that satisfying sound when they are clinked together or thrown down during a bet. Cheaper options are made from resin or even plastic and don't have the look or weight of more refined sets, However, if you aren't a serious player then this probably won't affect the enjoyment of the game.
The Bicycle Carousel, the Brybelly Wooden Carousel, and the Kovot 300 are all budget-friendly sets that will suffice for any friendly game and include two decks of cards. Those looking for a little more quality may consider the Trademark Poker Dice Style, which has 500 chips made from a composite resin with an insert to bring the weight to 11.5 grams. The Da Vinci Executive also has similar weighted chips however, they are made from a clay composite that gives them a more authentic feel. The Claysmith Gaming Mint is an ornate set with clear denomination markings. It comes in an aluminum storage case and includes dealer and blind buttons, 5 dice, and two decks of standard playing cards. Finally, we added the Slowplay Nash to the ranking as it is a professional-quality set with either 300 or 500 clay chips with an iron core. Their heavier weight of 14 grams, along with their Art Deco styling set them apart from much of the competition, which is understandably reflected in the price.
December 31, 2019:
Although we liked the look of the Cardinal Industries 200 Piece, we have opted to replace it, since the overall quality doesn't allow it to last for the long term. But we decided to keep the Brybelly Ultimate Heavyweight despite occasional issues with the case's bottom. It's one of the largest options, so it may be the right choice for those who need its 1,000 chips. If luxury and feel are a must, you might consider the Versa Games JPC Crown Casino or Claysmith Gaming Mint, which would pair well with a set of luxury playing cards. Or, if you are looking for a gift, there's the Griffco Personalized. Finally, we decided to add one extremely budget-friendly choice, the Bicycle Carousel. It has a relatively low number of lightweight plastic chips in three colors, so it's not for the serious player; however, like the Kovot 300, it should work just fine for a casual game with friends or family.
Special Honors
Custom Made Casino Custom Chips Whether you want to advertise or just flaunt a little, the Custom Made Casino Custom Chips are sure to fit the bill. There are plenty of designs to choose from, and you can upload your own logo or add text, so your creativity is the only limitation. custommadecasino.com
Lancelot Lancaster White Luxury Mysterio You'll need to win big to afford the Lancelot Lancaster White Luxury Mysterio, an entirely handmade option that is ornate but sophisticated. Each piece feels heavy in the hand, and the box boasts a Bramah lock to keep everything secure. lancelotlancasterwhite.weebly.com
Giobagnara Poker Case Unlike some luxury options, the Giobagnara Poker Case doesn't have a lot of baroque flourishes or bright colors. Instead, it offers refined, simple elegance thanks to a walnut and mahogany construction and eight denominations of high-quality poker chips. artemest.com
4. Da Vinci Executive
5. Brybelly Wooden Carousel
6. The Greenbacks by History Chips
7. Griffco Personalized
8. Kovot 300
9. Brybelly Ultimate Heavyweight
10. Bicycle Carousel
How Do I Choose The Correct Poker Chip Set For Me?
Felt not only looks exclusive, it protects the chips from getting scratched.
The most important thing to consider before purchasing any poker chip set is what you plan on using that set for. If you want a set of chips that you can simply keep on a shelf, for example, then your interest should be in finding an inexpensive set that includes at least four different-colored chips, all housed within a case with cylindrical slots for keeping those chips in order.
If, on the other hand, you host a weekly card game, you may want to upgrade to a set that comes with several "marked" denominations of chips. In addition, you'll want a case that's made of aluminum, or polished wood. If your game calls for a banker, then your case should feature a lock, or, at the very least, a pair of fasteners. If you'd like the case to have an air of prestige, be sure that it comes with a felt interior. Felt not only looks exclusive, it protects the chips from getting scratched.
The bigger your games, the more you'll need a set that comes with a vast assortment of chips. This is particularly true for lower denominations. Any multi-table game with more than a dozen players should have at least 100 of these lower denomination chips. In the event you own a set with "unmarked" chips (i.e., color-coded, yet bearing no denominations), you can always use more than one color to represent a specific denomination.
If you're interested in authenticity, then you'll want to confirm that a set's chips have been made out of molded clay. Any poker chips that are made out of plastic (or some other compressed material) may look fairly similar, but they will not have the same finish, and they will not have that trademark "clink" whenever you toss them into the pot.
A Quick List of Games That You Can Play With a Set of Poker Chips
As a pastime, Poker is more popular today than it has ever been. And with that popularity comes a wide variety of styles: 5-Card Stud, Texas Hold 'Em, and Open-Face, just to name a few. In addition, there are international variations on the game, including Danish Poker (Mousel), Chinese Poker (Pepito), and Russian Poker (Pusoy). One of the coolest aspects about any of these games is that you can plan an entire evening around them. All you need is a set of chips and a deck of cards.
There are entire point systems that revolve around wagering on bar games like Shufflebowl and Pool.
Assuming you have a set of chips, there's no need to resign yourself to Poker. In addition to Blackjack and Rummy, you can also use casino chips to wager on simple games, like Acey Deucey, High Card, or War. The beauty of these games is that they are streamlined, and they require less than five minutes to learn.
Mahjong becomes a lot more interesting once you start to wager on individual outcomes. The same can be said for Chess and Checker tournaments (with each piece - and game - being worth a specific amount of points). People use poker chips to wager on outdoor games like Bocce and Cornhole. There are entire point systems that revolve around wagering on bar games like Shufflebowl and Pool.
You can even jazz up a game of Monopoly by replacing the traditional paper script with a set of chips. Poker chips are a lot more in tune with the betting tradition of Atlantic City, which the original Monopoly was based on. What's more, a stack of chips looks a lot more intimidating than a handful of bills that have been tucked under the board.
How And Why The Casino Chip Became a Gambling Mainstay
The idea of wagering objects - whether they be twigs, artillery, cigarettes, or clothes - has been around since Biblical Times. The first centers of legalized gambling were built in Venice during the 15th Century. These gambling houses dealt in cash until they were superseded by more lavish casinos during the late 1800s. It was at this point that the "gambling chip" was born.
Casino chips allow for faster betting and dealing, along with less concerns about counterfeit money.
Gambling chips are valuable to a casino for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that a custom-made chip has almost zero value outside a casino. This, of course, minimizes the risk of money being stolen at the tables, and it also means that the customer is liable for any accidental losses that occur after any currency is exchanged.
Casino chips allow for faster betting and dealing, along with less concerns about counterfeit money. Most casinos accumulate a significant amount of revenue simply based on the number of chips that are never redeemed, or otherwise spent on the casino floor.
Household casino-chip sales have spiked over the past 10 years, due in large part to online betting being outlawed in the United States. These chips remain a no-risk way to enjoy card-playing in a private setting. They also remain a great way to practice strategy prior to playing in a casino for major stakes.
Starting his career in the building industry, Chris built and managed a plumbing and heating company in northern England. After 13 years, seeking a more fulfilling lifestyle, he moved to southeast Asia, eventually settling in Vietnam, where he teaches writing and comprehension at a number of international universities. Drawing on his previous experience, and his passion for kitesurfing and windsurfing, Chris is knowledgeable in all things water related both recreationally and within the construction industry.