Casino tokens - commonly known as chips are tokens used in place of money in casinos. Since using huge amounts of money can be both risky as well as dangerous this system has been long devised .At the end of the game the chips are exchanged at the counter for an equivalent amount of money.

A variant of chips are plaques they serve the same purpose as chips though they differ in some respects. Plaques are bigger; mostly they are rectangular in shape, have a serial number and are used to denote larger denominations than chips.

Coming to the make of the chip early players even used pieces of gold or ivory. Besides such exotic material, chips have been made of bone, wood, paper and clay. Another unusual material is mother of pearl which is used in many European chip sets.

Amongst all these the most popular is clay chips. Some excellent quality chip sets are available in clay. Though called clay chip sets they are not entirely made of clay. The material is a combination of clay and sand or calcium carbonate or chalk, the outcome is a more durable substance than clay. The clay is molded and colored in a different way in different manufacturing units. The method used is unique in each case and is usually a trade secret.

A broad outline of the process can be explained here. The color and design on the chip is not painted or done manually. Rather some clay is used of different colors to give the color and designing effect on the chip, this different colored clay is bonded with the base of the chip .The whole thing is baked at a high heat so that the color and design becomes an integral part of the chip and can in no way peel off.

Ceramic chips are the latest ones that are in vogue. They too are referred to as clay chips. Another cheaper substitute is plastic or resin that is given a clay feel and even sound. These are certainly cheaper and hence are more commonly used in homes. But for professionals and tournaments clay chips are a must. Another reason (besides the cost) why clay chip sets are not preferred by homes is the feel of clay chips when they are first used .Many complain of rough surface, jagged edges, uneven feel etc.

To start with all clay chips may feel that way but in casinos excessive usage smoothens them soon whereas at homes it takes much longer. So it may be advisable for friendly tournaments to stick to plastic chip sets with a clay feel rather than going or actual clay chips.