Part IV: Financial Fraud · Chip, Cash & Ticket Fraud

RFID Chip Bypass / Low-Denomination Targeting

How it works

Many casinos embed RFID microchips only in high-denomination chips ($100+) due to the approximately $2.50 per-chip cost. This leaves lower-denomination chips ($1, $5, $25) protected only by UV markings, holograms, and custom designs. Professional counterfeiting operations specifically target these lower denominations, producing larger quantities of fake chips that aggregate to significant values. The lower security on these chips makes them easier to replicate using basic molding and printing techniques. Fraudsters introduce them gradually at busy tables where scrutiny is lower.

Where it appears

Low-denomination chip play at busy table games, chip exchanges/color-ups, bulk cash-outs of mixed denominations

On the record

Industry estimates suggest low-denomination counterfeiting is significantly underreported because individual fake chips are often written off as cashier errors or miscounts.

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.