Chip Cheat (4 Viewers)

That is a very good point. They had 2-$100 and 2- $500 chips. Not sure how they introduced them into the game. Maybe they got change or something.

I’m kind of confused. Did the cheat bring $500 chips? Or trade another player $100s for them?

I host a 2/5 game which is pretty splashy, and still almost never use my $500s. If any extras showed up on the table it would be really obvious.

If chip security is a continued concern, you might just want to eliminate high-denoms like the $500 entirely for a while. Maybe even $100s. Just buy some more $25s. Slipping in 1K in $500s is easy (if there are other $500s on the table). Not so easy with $25s. You could still wind up light but the switcheroo would require more dexterity.
 
If chip security is a continued concern, you might just want to eliminate high-denoms like the $500 entirely for a while. Maybe even $100s.
^^This. I've played in some 1/2 or 2/5 NL home games that operate like this. They are heavy with the $5 and $25 chips, and only break out the $100s on rare occasions. This does require 8-10+ racks of $5 chips and 4-5 racks+ of $25 chips, though. [edit - for the $15k bank you need]

Another option might be to get some custom oversized chips or custom plaques just for the high value chips, like $100 or $500s.
 
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H....we had a chip cheat bring is own chips. He got my game for $1200!!!

...The last 2 weeks I had to borrow a set from another player, to insure integrity in the game.
Simple fix: If someone else supplies the chips, he also manages the bank. Obvious, no?
 
Simple fix: If someone else supplies the chips, he also manages the bank. Obvious, no?
I don't think the cheat brought the entire chip set to play with, he snuck in a few single chips of high denominations, into his stack during gameplay, or when cashing out.

I think the phrase "bring his own chips" means something different to us PCFers where this is a common practice at some of our games for others to bring a 'guest set' to play with.
 
After reading through the thread here are somethings I would add for @2xdown.

There is a vendor here called tiger palace that is about to have a sale of very premium chips and very hard to get a hold of. You might find a set in your range. If you find duplicates of tiger palace in your you know that the person got them from here or know someone connected to here. but also how far they want to go to cheat.

Regarding Tina, her company can do UV security. It costs a lot more in artwork fees but a least you are not paying premium prices for chips. Also you can request to her not to show your chips and they are pretty good about it. Also look into one of the newer molds like greek or web molds because cards mold are really common.

Failing to tell them not to display the chips will be the biggest reason your design gets stolen again. There are a number of other Chinese manufacturers that will take the designs off of one manufactures page. So try to make sure Justin & Tina know not to display or remanufacture them without your permission. Good Luck.

I am in the same boat as you looking for secure chips.
 
Failing to tell them not to display the chips will be the biggest reason your design gets stolen again.
Or a guy at the game with a camera phone who knows how to get in touch with a ceramic manufacturer?
Tina isn’t the only one cranking out ceramic chips without regard to copyright and I don’t believe she wouldn’t reproduce them anyway, for half a buck.
Granted, having ceramic chips manufactured would be a huge step to take, just to swindle a game out of a grand. But it would actually be pretty easy to do and for what, a couple hundred dollars?
If you really want secure, ceramic is not the way, in 2024.
 
While I personally love the Indiana Grand chips and would hate to discourage you from grabbing a set, this won’t vastly improve your game security. Those chips were/are still widely available. If people are sneaking chips into your game and cashing them out, they can easily find these chips for under face value online.

If you do decide to go after an Indiana Grand set, I’d encourage you to shop around or even post a WTB ad in the classifieds to try and find a more competitive price. I just picked up a set in the classifieds a few days ago.
 
I’m kind of confused. Did the cheat bring $500 chips? Or trade another player $100s for them?

I host a 2/5 game which is pretty splashy, and still almost never use my $500s. If any extras showed up on the table it would be really obvious.

If chip security is a continued concern, you might just want to eliminate high-denoms like the $500 entirely for a while. Maybe even $100s. Just buy some more $25s. Slipping in 1K in $500s is easy (if there are other $500s on the table). Not so easy with $25s. You could still wind up light but the switcheroo would require more dexterity.
Players are in and out at different times throughout the night. Maybe 15 total, 10 of which I see in the neighborhood each day. 3 regulars were left, and I started breaking everyone down and I realized 2 extra of each 500 & 100 chips. That particular night we had more like 25K on the table.

The 4 of us split the loss, told no one and agreed to do a better job vetting and purchase dedicated set of chips.

It's really not about the $1200. It's the principle of running a clean fair game so everyone can have confidence and fun.
 
Or a guy at the game with a camera phone who knows how to get in touch with a ceramic manufacturer?
Tina isn’t the only one cranking out ceramic chips without regard to copyright and I don’t believe she wouldn’t reproduce them anyway, for half a buck.
Granted, having ceramic chips manufactured would be a huge step to take, just to swindle a game out of a grand. But it would actually be pretty easy to do and for what, a couple hundred dollars?
If you really want secure, ceramic is not the way, in 2024.

That is why I am going for UV.

But in all seriousness, there is no perfect way to secure your chips from being copied. Only by making it tough to copy will it prevent easy cheating. Plus anyone who takes that much effort to make copies of my chips shouldn't be allowed at my games anymore. They are in it steal other peoples money not play poker.
 
^^This. I've played in some 1/2 or 2/5 NL home games that operate like this. They are heavy with the $5 and $25 chips, and only break out the $100s on rare occasions. This does require 8-10+ racks of $5 chips and 4-5 racks+ of $25 chips, though. [edit - for the $15k bank you need]

Another option might be to get some custom oversized chips or custom plaques just for the high value chips, like $100 or $500s.


The plaques are a good idea.

In my one-table 2/5 game, 500 $5s and 300 $25s are plenty. In my last game I did have to dig into several barrels of $100s, but have not yet touched the $500s.

And he’s spreading 1/2. I’m a little dubious of the 15K figure, unless this is a two-table room.
 
That is why I am going for UV.

But in all seriousness, there is no perfect way to secure your chips from being copied. Only by making it tough to copy will it prevent easy cheating. Plus anyone who takes that much effort to make copies of my chips shouldn't be allowed at my games anymore. They are in it steal other peoples money not play poker.
Right. I think I agree with you Almostly completely. So apologies for arguing but I can’t help myself. The UV is of limited use in my opinion unless your table is always UV lit. I mean, if I was going to cheat a game like this, I wouldn’t just bust out an extra stack of hundreds at cash out time. I’d be palming them into my stack and right into pots throughout the night. So by the end of the night at cash out, when you UV wand the chips, everybody’s gonna have a few fakes in their stacks.
 
The plaques are a good idea.

In my one-table 2/5 game, 500 $5s and 300 $25s are plenty. In my last game I did have to dig into several barrels of $100s, but have not yet touched the $500s.

And he’s spreading 1/2. I’m a little dubious of the 15K figure, unless this is a two-table room.
It always starts at 1/2 500 but you can buy in anytime and match chip leader. In till the early morning usually 15K.
 
Right. I think I agree with you Almostly completely. So apologies for arguing but I can’t help myself. The UV is of limited use in my opinion unless your table is always UV lit. I mean, if I was going to cheat a game like this, I wouldn’t just bust out an extra stack of hundreds at cash out time. I’d be palming them into my stack and right into pots throughout the night. So by the end of the night at cash out, when you UV wand the chips, everybody’s gonna have a few fakes in their stacks.
That's what happened. 100%
 
And he’s spreading 1/2. I’m a little dubious of the 15K figure, unless this is a two-table room.
I can believe it. I've played in some '1/2' or '1/3' games in my area that play more like a 5/10 game.

Some games have a rock (forced straddle either under the gun or on the button), button straddles are allowed, unlimited straddles allowed, and maybe half the people at the table are straddling to $10 for more than half the hands.
 
So by the end of the night at cash out, when you UV wand the chips, everybody’s gonna have a few fakes in their stacks.

Those wont pay out. But I agree there nothing I can but alert others in the group there is a cheater among us. And least I can hope the remainder of players don't want to be cheated out of their money.

And we are not a casino who can spend infinite to secure the money. But if I can make it difficult to copy my chips I will do the best I can. lol

Edit: the best is to get the ceramics with RFID chips built in (Tina can do it). But they are like $.80 a chip. Actually they maybe in OP's depending on much the price of RFID chips have gone up in the last 3 years.
 
You need a set like this. Unique mold, colors, and hard to replicate a hot stamp.



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The saying is - First time shame on them, SECOND time shame on you

You might not be able to stop the first time, but the second time you should know better ;)

I don’t know if these ever sold. If you needed more 25/100s he also had a tournament set for sale that I do not think sold.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/major-reduction-3800-cpc-castaway-casino-cash-set.103572/

Or you could possibly piggyback on someone else’s CSQ order if he will let you use the artwork for more chips although I don’t know when the next time it’s going to run is since it is running right now.
These are perfect! I messaged him hope he responds that post was a bit old.
 
Given your budget and how seriously you (rightly) want to take security going forward, I think the only solution that will put your mind at ease is a set of CPCs.

I was one of her earlier customers and absolutely love the chips she's produced, but expecting Tina (or any other Chinese chip company) not to reproduce a design is like handing a piece of crack to a junkie and not expecting them to take it.
 
I would also alert players that they should say something discreetly (just to the host) if they notice anyone’s stack growing more than the action might warrant.

If extra high denoms started showing up on my table I’m pretty sure people would notice.
 
For the stakes involved and considering there has been incident, I would get a custom set 100% and preferably CPC which would likely be your most secure method in ensuring your game is as secure as possible.

Custom ceramics would be a good intermediate solution considering your set is now compromised, but even ceramics can be reproduced in China without a huge amount of trouble.
 

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