All about land-based casino security systems

Casinos, in today’s format, are a sophisticated business where the primary concern is not for profit but for the safety of their visitors. And it’s not just about reputation. Customers and guests of gambling establishments and casinos are, more often than not, wealthy and respectable people with connections and positions in society. It is even difficult to imagine that something awful could happen to them within the walls of a casino, that someone would be cheated, their valuables and money stolen.

A simple apology is not enough and you have to be prepared for a multi-million dollar lawsuit. It’s just the collapse of the whole business. That is the reason why the security system of many gambling establishments in the world is comparable, and in some cases even better than that of many banks or state security institutions.

Key areas of casino security

Casino security system is a complete, complex multilevel system. It consists of the following interconnected blocks or modules:

1. Ensuring the physical protection and security of the entire casino building perimeter and utilities, its entrances, roofs and ceilings, car parks, basements and underground sewers. This also includes control of life support systems – water, lighting, heating, telephone and internet communications, lines and protocols for communication with emergency government services. 
2. The second contour of physical protection is security of internal casino premises, individual gaming halls and service rooms. Also under control here should be systems of internal communications – corridors, stairwells, windows, lifts, ventilation systems.
3. The third security contour is the most important. It includes physical security and control of premises where valuables are kept – money, special equipment, places where casino visitors’ belongings are kept. Particular control and protection are subject to a cash register room, a general casino vault, a block where the alarm system, servers and office space.
4. Subsystem for security and personal safety of casino customers and guests is to maintain general order, to resolve conflicts quickly and tactfully, to control visitors at the entrance and exit of the casino, and to monitor the movement of persons through the service passages of the building.
5. Special escort and customer security (VIP), escort service, private security.
6. Video surveillance system as the building and the interior of the casino, as well as each gaming table, ticket office, lifts and other critical technical control areas.

Physical security subsystem

This is part of the overall casino security control system where, in addition to purely technical measures and controls, direct or indirect interaction between casino staff and guests takes place. This is necessary to ensure measures are in place to protect them. It involves several levels.

• Controlling the flow of visitors at the casino entrance, keeping track of suspicious individuals. Some high-end casinos have an operational security organisation that is able to detect potential dangers as early as approaching the casino building.
• Monitoring of all casino premises, particularly those where casino guests are present. The job of casino security staff is to anticipate the development of an emergency situation in time, and preferably beforehand, to provide all necessary assistance to guests and to respond to their comments and complaints.
• If the situation is related to conflict resolution, both between the guests and between them and the casino staff, an intervention group for solving conflicts and critical situations is involved. It includes administrative personnel and key managers.
• There is also a separate escort or VIP escort service. Their task is to ensure maximum security up to escorting the client to his/her home, hotel or airport.

Video surveillance and control system

This is a separate existing casino security service or team that monitors video surveillance of gaming rooms and other public casino areas. These are specially trained security personnel who, at the slightest sign of information from casino CCTV cameras, can instantly detect the development of an abnormal situation. They must react in time, giving a command to the appropriate casino security and safety teams.

As a conclusion, it is worth noting that this is only a superficial look at casino security. In fact, it is a very complex and costly system. But the appeal of casinos is that the guests and customers have a high level of security without fear of being robbed right outside their walls.