Security Systems for Casinos | Types, Protection, Uses & Safety

Due to their nature, casinos are one of the most heavily guarded and protected entertainment venues in the world.

They face a wide variety of security challenges and have a huge responsibility towards safeguarding their assets, guests, and employees. Clearly, it isn’t a very easy task.

If you’ve seen any casino robbery movie, you would know why they are such lucrative targets for criminals. The sheer volume of cash and currency that flows through them on a daily basis creates the perfect opportunity for theft, fraud, and counterfeiting.

For this reason, security systems have become a big part of casinos with almost all of them under CCTV surveillance.

Read on to find out all about casino security systems and how to choose the best ones to maximise security and protection:

THE CHALLENGES OF CASINO SECURITY

Before we discuss what can be done to minimise the security challenges in casinos, you need to understand what these challenges are.

Theft and fraud

There will always be people with bad intentions looking for opportunities to commit theft or fraud, and you are very likely to come across them in casinos.

Casinos are known to have huge amounts of money changing hands at a rapid pace, and the challenge lies in quickly detecting cheaters and thieves.

Regulation adherence

To ensure data protection and to maintain the integrity of operations, the gaming industry has strict regulations that need to be followed.

The challenge is to monitor every table, in addition to the machines and cash vaults, to make certain that the rules are being followed at all times.

Evidence gathering

With so much activity going around in casinos, there is an increased chance of an incident occurring, and the security officials must be on top of their game to efficiently respond to, investigate, and mitigate if necessary.

What casinos require to be able to pull that off successfully is the ability to monitor both in real-time and retrospectively, and be able to use smart analytics to track and identify behaviour patterns among players.

Size and volume

Casinos are usually built in large and open environments with multiple entrances and exit points, making it difficult to successfully secure it.

To top it off, the sheer volume of the people inside sitting around the tables or walking, especially during busy nights, makes it difficult to monitor all of their actions at all times.

CCTV CAMERAS FOR CASINOS

CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) cameras are one of the most effective security systems and their popularity is increasing every day with more businesses trusting them to keep security threats at bay.

What started as simple video recording equipment has evolved into a full-fledged security system providing one of the best deterrence against all kinds of security concerns such as theft, intrusions, burglaries, vandalism, and all other criminal offences.

If you look at the security challenges faced by casinos mentioned above, you would realise that almost all of them could be solved using monitoring and surveillance.

Luckily, these two features are exactly what CCTV cameras are popular for. When people know they are being monitored and recorded, they avoid doing anything that might get them in trouble for the fear of getting caught.

Some of the key areas in a casino where CCTV cameras could prove useful include the entrances and exits, the cashier areas, all open areas, and above the gaming floor.

CCTV cameras constantly monitor and recorded everything in their surroundings and can be beneficial for casino security in the following ways:

Prevent theft

CCTV cameras don’t just deter crime by playing with the fear of getting caught but also provide legitimate evidence in the form of CCTV footage that helps law enforcement agencies identify and catch criminals during an investigation. Casino surveillance can also help prevent employee theft which is another major concern.

Monitor suspicious players

Strategically placed CCTV cameras allow the security department to closely monitor gaming tables and individual players to see for any foul play. Sadly, there’s always someone looking to beat the system through cheating and CCTV cameras can help easily identify them.

Controlled environment

Huge crowds mixed with high stakes gambling and alcohol may lead to increased chances of anti-social behaviour including yelling, fighting, abuse, and violence. Surveillance cameras allow security workers to instantly detect the issue and control the situation before it gets out of hands.

Remote monitoring

Advanced technology has enabled CCTV footage, both live and recorded, to be monitored remotely from absolutely anywhere in the world. All you require is a smart device such as a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop, along with a good internet connection. This allows for greater convenience and enables casino owners and managers to keep a check on what’s happening on the main floor from the comfort of their office or home.

TYPES OF CCTV CAMERAS FOR CASINO SECURITY

With an increase in demand, there are several options available in the market with certain models made for a specific purpose.

Bullet CCTV cameras – one of the most common types of CCTV cameras in the world, their recognisable look makes them a highly visible deterrent against theft and intrusions. They are ideal for outdoor use and in applications that require long-distance viewing.
Dome CCTV cameras – another very popular choice that gets its name from the vandal-resistant dome-shaped casing that the camera sits in. They have a discreet shape making it difficult to see which way they are facing and allow wider angles to be monitored via 360-degree rotation of the camera.
C-Mount CCTV cameras – bulkier in size and come in a rugged casing that protects them from harsh weather conditions. They have detachable lenses that can be switched to adapt to the distance and field of view without losing focus.
PTZ Pan/Tilt/Zoom CCTV cameras – can pan sideways, tilt up and down, zoom in and out of objects, and can adjust the right angle of the camera to record the area of interest. They allow more control over what is being monitored and are the ideal choice for remote monitoring.
Day/Night CCTV cameras – built to effectively work during both the day and night-time, regardless of the lighting conditions. They are ideal for places that require round-the-clock outdoor CCTV monitoring.
Infrared/Night vision CCTV cameras – use infrared technology to record images and videos in absolute darkness. They can also withstand fog, dust, and smoke, and record coloured footage during the daytime while capturing black and white footage during the night.
Network/IP CCTV cameras – connected over a network that allows both the live and recorded footage to be accessed from anywhere in the world via the internet. They are the best choice for remote monitoring and allow storing archived footage on network video recorders (NVRs) and digital video recorders (DVRs).
Wireless CCTV cameras – made for the sole purpose of minimising the installation time and use of excess wires for a cleaner appearance. Due to their discreet appearance, they easily blend in with the surroundings working as a hidden deterrent and are ideal for situations where good presentation is key and the display of excess wires might ruin the aesthetics.
High Definition (HD) CCTV cameras – come in a variety of resolutions ranging from 720p going all the way up to 4K, delivering high-quality images with zooming capabilities. They are particularly useful in high-risk areas where the foot traffic needs to be monitored closely and the perpetrators need to be easily identified and caught using the recorded footage.

BEST CCTV CAMERA FEATURES FOR CASINO SECURITY

With advancements in technology, CCTV cameras are now available with a multitude of features that make them even more effective against security threats.

There are certain features that you must look for when choosing the best CCTV camera for your casino, and they include:

Infrared/Night vision

Since all casinos are often dark and not well illuminated, it makes sense to install CCTV cameras with night vision and infrared capabilities to help record clear footage even in such compromised lighting conditions.

Field of view

The field of view is the area covered by a single CCTV camera, and for a casino, it is recommended to go with a system that offers more flexibility and control over the angles being monitored. For that reason, if getting the most coverage out of the fewest devices is your objective, PTZ cameras seem like your best option.

Long-range

Casinos are typically constructed in open areas with large rooms and hallways, which makes having CCTV cameras with a longer viewing range extremely useful. You need to be able to see what is happening in every corner of the casino, and if you are not able to, it kind of defeats the purpose of video surveillance.

WDR

Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) allows the CCTV cameras to balance the lighting and makes the colours ideal for recording. It improves the quality of the footage in casinos where there is a stark contrast in the lighting with dim overhead lighting and neon lights on the machines.

Facial recognition

Another very useful feature, facial recognition may be used by casino security to identify previously arrested and blacklisted players and remove them from the casino. It would be nearly impossible to identify them without this feature since casinos get over thousands of visitors every day.

Vandal-proof

CCTV cameras may be subjected to vandalism by criminals trying to steal or damage them or by something who is intoxicated. Therefore, to ensure that the surveillance systems are kept safe from such attacks, locate them out of easy reach or opt for vandal-resistant cameras.

SURVEILLANCE LAWS FOR CASINOS

While all businesses are allowed to use video surveillance to maximise security on their property, there are certain surveillance camera laws that they must all adhere to, including casinos.

Surveillance is a tricky topic and, depending on how it is used, it can either help enforce the rights to security, fair trial, and privacy, or undermine them.

You have certain responsibilities as data controllers that are clearly outlined in the Data Protection Act (DPA) to protect the rights of the data subjects, aka the people being monitored.

CCTV operators in casinos have to be very careful with how they use the systems and only use them for a clearly defined purpose, which is to deter crime.

You must establish clear responsibilities and procedures, along with documenting all aspects of data control and ensure that the data is stored securely and can only be accessed by authorised personnel.

You need to inform everyone in the area that they are being recorded, which can best be achieved by putting up clear signage or communicating with the people involved.

Monitoring staff is permissible as long as they have been made aware of it in writing and explained the reasons behind it.

You are, under no circumstances, allowed to install CCTV cameras in private areas such as toilets and changing rooms.

The data subjects may ask to see the CCTV footage that you have of them and you are obligated to provide them with the recorded data within one month.

In certain cases, you may also be required to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a CCTV operator, which includes paying a data protection fee.

OTHER SECURITY SYSTEMS

CCTV cameras provide a great security solution for casinos but there are certainly other security measures as well that can be taken to maximise casino security.

ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS

Casinos, like any other business, have areas that allow access to authorised individuals only. These areas include the management offices, security rooms, and vault rooms for the cash reserves.

Access control systems are keyless door entry systems that use various authentication methods to verify the identity of the user.

Based on whether the credentials are accepted or rejected, the users are granted or denied access, respectively.

The different types of authentication methods include access cards, keypad/pin code, biometrics, smart locks, and remote access.

For added security, you may also enable two-factor authentication where two forms of authentication are required to verify your identity.

In addition to that, access control systems allow you to track the access of the users, something that is not possible using traditional locks and keys. You can check which user accessed which area and at what time, along with any failed attempts that were made.

The log of events gives you more control and knowledge over who is accessing the restricted areas of the casino and at what times.

In the event of a security incident, the accurate records provided by the system help put together a timeline that helps trace who had access to the area where the incident occurred, along with precise timestamps.

SECURITY SAFES AND VAULTS

Security safes are secure boxes that can be used to lock up valuable items that the casino owns, such as the cash reserves that they are required to keep on hand. They ensure that the contents remain protected from threats such as theft, fire, floods, and other disasters.

A vault, also known as a strong room, is different from a conventional safe in that it is not just a secure box installed in a room but instead, is the entire room.

Secure vaults are usually found in casinos and are closely guarded by heavy doors with complex mechanisms, making sure no unauthorised access is made.

There are many different kinds of security safes, but they all have one thing in common: they are extremely secure allowing only authorised individuals to gain access.

Smart safes are high-tech security devices that can help casinos with their cash security and management process. They use advanced intelligence to automatically accept, validate, track, record, and store cash.

They’re called smart due to their ability to connect to the internet and other cash management technologies to provide real-time visibility of their contents.

BURGLAR ALARMS

Burglar alarms are designed to detect intrusions and break-ins using a series of sensors that sound an alarm to facilitate a fast response as soon as they occur.

They are used in a variety of applications and can be particularly useful for detecting after-hours intrusions, which are one of the many security challenges faced by casinos.

There are various types of burglar alarms to choose from, all of which differ in the level of alertness that they offer.

For maximum protection and to ensure that no intrusion goes undetected, especially during the night when the casino is empty, you may opt for professional alarm monitoring services.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

We are professionals working in the security industry for over 40 years and our vast experience enables us to understand the various needs and requirements of different types of properties including casinos.

We provide a comprehensive security solution that includes not just professional installation of security systems but also their monitoring, maintenance, and repair.

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