As you look at the various chips available, you will notice that different types of chips have varying weights. The assortment is quite wide and can be anything from 9 grams up to 13 grams. So what is the exact weight that a chip should be?
There is no definite answer available for that question. This is because it is all a matter of personal taste. For the purists who have to know the exact weight a further clue will be “that depends.”
When you really get down to basics, most chips are around 11.5 grams. The reason for this is unknown; perhaps it is just that there are a few more chips with this weight. Your usual poker player probably plays with chips of this weight because they are readily available and he does not go to the casino regularly.
But if you mean, “What size chip do the casinos use?” when you ask what the “right” weight is for a poker chip, then the answer is definitely not 11.5 grams. In fact, the answer becomes a bit of a moving target.
Whether it’s for reasons of security or personal design, the weight of poker chips in Las Vegas casinos varies slightly. Some are heavier than others but generally, poker chips in Las Vegas weigh about 10 grams. This may be because 10 grams is the weight of the clay in the chips when they’re made to size. There are 13 gram clay poker chips available that are the same size as the 10 gram chips, but these chips usually have metal flakes mixed with the clay to increase the weight.
So the official weight of a poker chip is really 10 grams. However you should still go by your personal preference. You may not feel comfortable with the light feel of the 10 gram chip and want to go for the 13 gram style.
The main thing is to choose a weight that your fellow gamers enjoy. After all carefree players will bet higher.