The luminescence of Cr3+ in borate glasses was investigated by conventional and laser spectroscopic methods. In these glasses emission is observed from two levels (2E and 4T2). From spectral analysis of excitation and absorption the most inefficiently luminescent Cr3+ ions are inferred to be primarily low-crustal-field ions. Furthermore, decay plots indicate energy transfer between these levels, i.e. from the 2E to the 4T2 level, which decreases the total luminescence efficiency even further.