Gaming chips have been manufactured from a varied range of materials in an almost infinite assortment of variations since the creation of betting and the requirement to track winnings. The most familiar materials used at present in the manufacture of current poker chips are plastic, clay composite, and acrylics. Clay chips, the original of the group, have been made in America since the late 1800s.
Back in the 19th century, poker players seemed to use any tiny item with value you can imagine. Early poker enthusiasts occasionally employed rough gold pieces as well as chips – chiefly made of wood and clay. By the 20th century, poker chip designs began to play a greater prominence, and the smooth sides of older chips gave way to chips with ridges to hold them neatly stacked together.
There is little or no doubt that poker has grown steadily in universal appeal ever since its origin in the 19th century. With the explosive growth of web gambling and specialty television shows, community interest in poker has feed the fire faster than ever before. Most folks are initially introduced to poker by television showslike Bravo’s "Celebrity Poker Showdown" or "Poker After Dark," and many will wager on their initial hands on the internet. Regardless of online poker’s growth, not much replaces the feeling of holding heavy clay poker chips in your hand, throwing chips into the center of a casino table, or creating high pilesstacks of chips after displaying a victorious hand.