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

UV Marking Replication on Counterfeit Chips

How it works

Casinos widely use ultraviolet (UV) inks as a covert security measure on chips — markings visible only under black light. However, UV detection equipment is not proprietary and can be acquired by criminals. Sophisticated counterfeiters use commercially available UV-reactive materials to replicate these markings on fake chips. The counterfeiter first examines a genuine chip under UV light to map the pattern, then applies similar UV-reactive compounds during the manufacturing process. While professional-grade UV ink matching requires expertise, amateur operations may succeed against casinos using only basic UV verification without additional layered security.

Where it appears

All chip denominations at cage and tables; primarily effective against smaller casinos with budget security

On the record

Crown Casino Melbourne discovered counterfeit chips in 2009 that initially passed “first muster” — suggesting basic security checks were insufficient against determined counterfeiters. The casino subsequently accelerated chip design changes.

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.