As is always the case when tackling queries regarding casino chips, cheques, and tokens, it's complicated (see QoD 1/18/2016) and varies from one gaming jurisdiction to another, not to mention from game to game. Hence, what follows does not pretend to be an exhaustive summary and if any readers have encountered different denominations, either in the USA or elsewhere, we'd be interested to hear your feedback.
We consulted several veteran gamblers, in addition to conducting some additional research, and here's what we found out.
In Nevada, the most common denominations for chips/cheques to be found on the casino floor are: $1; $5; $25; $100; $500; $1,000; and $5,000. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas last month had new $25,000 and $100,000-denomination baccarat chips approved by the Gaming Control Board, while when the ill-fated London Club casino-within-a-casino debuted at the former Aladdin back in 2000, aiming for a high-roller clientele, the GCB approved special $500,000, $1 million, and $5 million plaques (the official name for such high-denomination chips), plus one lone $10 million "super-plaque."
Anthony Curtis recalls having definitely seen $2.50 chips in his blackjack-playing days, since those were used for the easy pay of naturals (i.e., a hand totally 21 on the first two cards dealt to a player), back in the days when a natural paid 3-2. He thinks he may have also seen $10 and possibly $12.50 checks at some point.
Frank B (LVASports.com) adds that some casinos have $10 and $20 chips for certain games, primarily Asian table games including baccarat and pai gow poker. This is because a 5% commission charged for all winning banker wagers at baccarat and winning wagers at pai gow converts evenly. Certain Atlantic City casinos have used $2.50 (pink) chips in $7.50/$15, and $10/$20 poker games, as well as on their blackjack tables.
Another oddity exists in the form of the $8 commemorative chips that were once commonly issued by Las Vegas casinos to celebrate Chinese New Year (since 8 is considered a lucky number in many Asian cultures), but they are now increasingly becoming a rarity.
While Nevada's Regulation 12, concerning Chips and Tokens, speaks volumes on the topics of dimension and design, it says little on the subject of denomination, aside from specifying that $1 is the lowest allowable for a casino chip/cheque; by contrast, 25ยข tokens (which have no monetary value) are permitted at the roulette table and today can be found at the El Cortez, for example. (We note that the casino's own official website erroneously refers to them as "chips".)
