Some informal games allow a bet to be made by placing the amount of cash on the table without converting it to chips, as this speeds up play. However, table stakes rules strictly prohibit this from being done while a hand is in progress. Other drawbacks to using cash include the ease with which cash can be "ratholed", which is normally disallowed, in addition to the security risk of leaving cash on the table. As a result, many games and virtually all casinos require a formal "buy-in" when a player wishes to increase their stake, or at least require any cash placed on the table to be converted into chips as quickly as possible.
Some informal games allow a bet to be made by placing the amount of cash on the table without converting it to chips as this speeds up play However table stakes rules strictly prohibit this from being done while a hand is in progress Other drawbacks to using cash include the ease with which cash can be "ratholed" which is normally disallowed in addition to the security risk of leaving cash on the table As a result many games and virtually all casinos require a formal "buy-in" when a player wishes to increase their stake or at least require any cash placed on the table to be converted into chips as quickly as possible