Field guide
RFID Chip Tracking & Authentication
How it works
Casinos embed RFID tags in high-value chips to track movement, authenticate legitimacy, and detect counterfeits. The system creates a digital ledger of chip locations and transactions. (As a counter-cheat) Each chip contains a unique identifier readable by antennas at tables, cages, and chokepoints. Stolen chips can be deactivated in the database. Counterfeit chips without valid RFID signatures are rejected at redemption.
On the record
In December 2010 one robber took $1.5 million in chips from a Bellagio craps table. The casino switched the chips on the tables within an hour and moved to discontinue its $25,000 chip, with redemption due by 22 April 2011. Contemporary reporting describes that chip call-in. It does not say radio tags were switched off. This case is frequently cited as proof of RFID value.
Detection & preventionADVISORY
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Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction: the method is described so it can be recognised.