Las Vegas casinos are notorious for being heavily monitored. But what goes on behind the scenes of those surveillance rooms?
Professional staff discreetly patrol the property to identify anything from cheating gamblers and panhandlers, incident reports for management and compliance departments as well as fine avoidance. Video surveillance technology also serves to keep employees and visitors safe by recording suspicious activity.
Security Officers
While it might appear that casino security officers simply stare into monitors all day, this is far from true. Utilizing some of the world’s most advanced security systems, everything from movement on the casino floor to betting patterns at specific table games are monitored in minute detail.
Officers tasked with this sensitive role must possess both expertise and an immaculate criminal record to excel in this demanding role. Their shifts typically consist of watching game sections from observation rooms before moving between these rooms and the casino floor to observe staff and patrons.
Respond to calls that come through Dispatch from incidents to chip fills (moving chips from a cage to a table), medical calls or anything else requiring response. This job can be extremely stressful as they must deal with serious matters that often lead to fines from the Gaming Control Board; having access to digital video helps resolve incidents faster thus saving personnel resources.
Dispatchers
Anytime someone attempts to cheat or steal at a casino, one of the greatest deterrents lies outside its gaming floor; rather it lies with surveillance. Yet despite being wired with hundreds or even thousands of cameras, casinos typically only employ five people for surveillance at large casinos in Las Vegas – and that can change during breaks for food, restroom runs or calls from supervisors on the floor! Keeping tabs on everything can be difficult.
Local police often reach out to casino security for video footage when investigating crimes. Security teams are trained to efficiently communicate situational data to law enforcement as quickly as possible and help reduce response time. Smart cameras that utilize analytics like instant alerts, heat mapping and loitering can further speed this process – for example if someone loiters in front of a hotel the camera could instantly notify an operator and trigger a call to the front desk if someone loiters there for too long.
Video Reviewing Stations
Casino surveillance room staff watch live video footage every minute of every day. Floor staff often request them to review incidents; as such, speed and efficiency become key elements in providing rapid review for incidents and incidents can be faster reviewed through digital systems that offer higher image quality bringing greater value and satisfaction for surveillance directors.
Cameras can also help detect cheaters and monitor money cages, so if someone commits fraud they are arrested. Local law enforcement will request all relevant surveillance videos as evidence against them.
Las Vegas casino surveillance rooms typically employ no more than five surveillance personnel on shift during a shift; more may work during weekends. Surveillance employees cannot socialize with other casino employees during shift, either, preventing potential collusion among staff and players as well as helping weed out bad actors who shouldn’t be on the casino floor.
Camera Installation
Casinos typically boast numerous surveillance cameras to keep an eye on the gaming floor and monitor potential troublemakers, but these don’t just hang from the ceiling; many cameras are hidden within tables or other gaming equipment for extra protection.
Security personnel frequently review video footage from casinos for incidents. Local police regularly request videos in order to help solve crimes or assess whether an accident was staged.
Cameras can be utilized at entrances and exits to identify known offenders, prevent vandalism or any suspicious activities, monitor cashier cages/counting rooms for employee theft prevention purposes, as well as gambling tables to detect cheating or rule violations. Some casinos even utilize facial recognition software to match patrons images against patrons’ faces for easy identification by surveillance personnel; HD cameras provide more accuracy and efficiency in making decisions to safeguard property and guests.
