Casino Chips Colors and Values
Aside from the bright neon lights on the Strip, casinos are some of the most colorful structures in the world. Not only are the interiors a dazzling riot of color, the casino chips are even color-coded to signify their respective values.
To any regular casino patron, knowing the value of the chips according to color is almost second nature to him. But for the gambling novice, not knowing the chip values can lead to potentially embarrassing situations.
Imagine placing a $5 bet on a table with a green-colored limit sign. You could become the laughingstock of the entire casino. If you only knew that green means $25, then you would save yourself from embarrassment and humiliation.
Knowing the chip values based on color will not only help you make the right bet amount, but also to compute your probable winnings. Any gambler will be severely handicapped if he doesn't know how much money in chip form he has.
All casino tables have small boards with color-coded game signs that represent the minimum bet amount. Most casino patrons don't bother to read the signs. Just by looking at the color, they will know the minimum bet value of each game.
The following are the most common colors of the chips and the amount they represent. Take note that some color values may change in some casinos, but these are the standard color codes used by most casinos.
Orange chips are called "pumpkins" and are worth $1,000. Purple chips are called "barneys" and are worth $500.
Black chips are worth $100. Green chips or "quarters" are $25. Red chips or "nickels" are counted as $5. Blue and white chips are usually $1 but may vary in some casinos.
As mentioned earlier, some casinos don't conform to these universal color coding of chips. The $1 chip, for example, may be any color other than white or blue, but green and red chips are the standard color values in majority of casinos.
It is also important to understand the rules and policies of a casino regarding their table color signs. Some casinos have color signs on all tables that signify the minimum bet, while some casinos don't have color signs that correspond to the chip colors. These are for $10 and $15 games, and the minimum bet is usually the next higher chip value, such as $25.
Memorizing the values of the chips according to color is very easy and will take just a few minutes of your time. Your knowledge of the various chip colors will not only save you from embarrassing situations, it will also enhance your casino gambling experience, making it easier for you to place bets and move between games.