Big Chip Rule in Cash Games?

[Headhunter13]

At a B&M casino last night, playng 1-3 NL. UTG makes it $12 by tossing out 2 $1 chips (white) and 2 $5 chips (red). Next player (who has a stick of red, green and white if that matters to you) takes 2 white chips, and 2 red chips and places them next to his rack. He shuffles them for a minute or so, and then takes a green ($25) chip off his stack and tosses it out. Dealer looks at me and says, "$25 to go." I ask why it's a raise and not a call. Floor comes over and rules it a raise since "he obviously intended to raise."

Late in the night, one person makes it $6 to go and the next person tosses out 2 red chips. I ask if this is a raise, and after realizing that it is a legal raise, the dealer rules it a call "since his intent was to call."

My qustion is: in the first example ($12 raise to you and you toss out a single $25 chip), would this be considered a raise or a call in most casinos? My understanding is that in a tournament it is clearly a call, but what about cash games?

Thanks,

--Headhunter