Nickel
Casino slang for a $5 chip.
Detailed Explanation
Nickel is part of the standard chip denomination vocabulary used in American casinos: nickel = $5 (typically red), quarter = $25 (typically green), dollar = $100 (typically black), five dollars = $500 (typically purple), dime = $1,000 (typically grey or yellow in high-limit areas). The colour-coding varies somewhat between properties but the names are consistent across Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
At most casino table games, $5 chips are the standard minimum denomination for mass-market tables. Minimum bets at Las Vegas Strip casinos typically start at $10–$25 during busy periods and $5–$10 on weekday mornings.
The informal chip vocabulary developed for practical reasons: announcing 'two nickels' at a table is faster and less attention-drawing than 'ten dollars.' Understanding chip nomenclature is a social marker among experienced casino players and staff.
Related Entries
Player & Finance
Action
The total amount of money wagered by a player during a session or period.
Player & Finance
Bankroll
The total amount of money a player sets aside specifically for gambling.
Casino Operations
Cage
The secure cashier area where players exchange chips for cash and access casino banking services.
Table Game Terms
Color Up
Exchanging a stack of lower-denomination chips for fewer higher-denomination chips of equal total value.