Is There A Hidden Health Risks in Las Vegas? What Lurks on Your Casino Chips

Las Vegas turns 120 years old this year on May 15, conveniently the same day as International Casinos Day, and if there is one thing synonymous with Vegas it’s casinos. 

And one thing you are guaranteed to find at a casino? Casino chips. If you're lucky enough, you will find plenty of them in your pocket or at the cash-out desk. Casino chips are as good as money. They are the currency of casinos.

But what you touch in Vegas, might not stay in Vegas. 

We at Casinos.com take cleanliness seriously, so seriously that we're running a competition for the best/cleanest toilets in Las Vegas, the Royal Flush Awards. Yep, I'm particularly proud of that one. But that got me thinking of other areas of casino hygiene, notably the aforementioned casino chip. 

Chips Dirty Secret

We’ve all heard horror stories about how dirty money can be, and casino chips are no different. One study found hundreds of species of microorganisms, including genital bacteria, microbes from mouths, drugs, and even faeces. 

The 2019 study, which paired 13 chips actively used in a casino with 13 straight from a chip manufacturer, found statistically significant development of bacteria and fungi.

A separate study from ESPN in 2007 commissioned a team of students from UNLV, who found over 5,600 microorganisms on one chip alone, with the average number ranging from 2,300 to 2,900.

Ryan Hartman, a dealer with the Aria who will be working the WSOP for the summer, once saw "a player put a $1,000 chip in his mouth". 

"I personally haven’t been trained on  chip cleanliness," confirmed Hartman. "I believe a separate team washes the chips. I’m not sure how often they actually get cleaned."

"Studies of shared items like currency and chips have shown they can harbor various microbes, including bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and even viral particles under certain conditions. 

"Given that chips circulate widely and are exchanged frequently, especially in a 24/7 environment like Las Vegas, there is a meaningful risk of transient contamination."

Thankfully, Oh confirmed that the risk of contracting illness from chips alone is minute compared to airborne or direct contact transmission.

"However, the actual risk of contracting an illness from chips alone is generally considered low compared to airborne or direct contact transmission routes," Oh continued. 

"The main concern is when hand-to-face contact follows chip handling, potentially transferring microbes to mucous membranes.”

'Several Thousand Bacterial Colonies' - The Dirty Truth 

Edwin went on to explain how objects like money or casino chips can often be dirtier than common surfaces like door handles or public toilets. 

“While it might seem surprising, studies have shown that money and chips can harbor bacterial loads comparable to or even exceeding some high-touch surfaces like door handles. 

"One study of currency found up to several thousand bacterial colonies per note, and similar findings have been reported for casino chips. 

"However, it’s important to note that while public toilet seats may have a 'dirty' reputation, they are often cleaned more frequently than items like chips, cash, or ATMs, which can lead to a greater microbial presence on those everyday objects.”

So we've concluded that, like money, casino chips are dirty. This got me thinking: Have we been going to casinos wrong our whole lives? Should we be washing our hands before AND after going to the bathroom? 

One study found that four-in-10 Americans don’t always wash their hands with soap after they go to the bathroom. Just 60-70% of people actually wash their hands after using the bathroom.

Of those found to wash their hands after using the restroom, the duration of hand washing does not reach the recommended time to ensure that hands are effectively cleaned.

We asked Edwin about the importance of hand hygiene in a casino environment and whether people should wash their hands before and after using the bathroom. 

“Both are important, but for different reasons. Handwashing after restroom use is crucial to prevent the spread of fecal-oral pathogens. 

"However, in a casino environment, where chips, cash, and shared surfaces are handled continuously, hand hygiene should also be emphasized before eating, drinking, or touching your face. 

"Good hand hygiene after restroom use and during gameplay (especially if you're snacking or drinking) provides the best protection.”

In his column for the Detroit News, Dr. Keith Roach advised hand-washing before and after using the bathroom in general. 

"I think you are wise to wash your hands twice: Before using the restroom to protect yourself from what germs you might have collected on your hands, and afterward to wash off the bacteria that we all have on our skin. 

"The 'privates' certainly have bacteria (without any contact from the environment necessary) that it would be hygienic not to spread around."