Many casino operators have yet to understand the full benefits of implementing an IP system, and some are weary of the new technology for legitimate reasons. Reliability will always be a concern, as is the overall cost of overhauling a system in a tough economy.
As with many other industries, the casino security market suffered the repercussions of the 2008 economic crisis. “In the past three years, there has been little growth. Not a lot of new construction has happened in Las Vegas, and many casinos in Macau have stopped buildling projects,” said Scott Schafer, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, Arecont Vision.
Now, the gaming market is getting back on its feet, but not at the rate that it has previously. “Many casinos had to stop mid-construction, or continued only to a point without opening,” said Kevin Bozarth, Global Sales EngineeringManager for Pelco (a Schneider Electric company). "In many of these cases, the security systems were already specified but became outdated after two to three years. Thus, the entire consulting, bidding, evaluating and design process for the entire system has to be redone."
Growth will depend on two aspects of the gaming market. “Part of the growth will lie in emerging gaming markets, such as Southeast Asia, and the other half will be in upgrades to existing markets, who were early adopters of digital recording technology,” said Gary James, Director of Business Development, Visimetrics.
The Allure of IP
An IP system can go past surveillance and security to help with customer service. “A player rewards system, where players can be tracked and be given points to use anywhere in the world in an affiliated casino, is a great way to market a casino above others,” said Tommy Burns, CEO of Burns and Associates.
The level of IP adoption depends on the client's individual circumstances. “For owners of casinos and other multiple properties, networkbased technology offers many advantages including centralized control,” said Jason Oakley, CEO of North American Video. “It is additionally a cost-effective, long-term strategy for utilizing technology to drive productivity and cost savings. Once network infrastructure is established for core security functions like video surveillance and access control, other solutions incorporating systems such as PoS, elevators/escalators and environmental systems can be added.”
Barriers to IP
One of the biggest barriers to an IP system is the transmission. “Much thought need to be placed in choosing between a single network and multiple networks. The cost savings and convenience of a single network are obvious advantages; however, there is also the fear of overreliance on a single network,” Lim said. “This concern can be addressed by implementing an independent redundant IP network. This will require solutions that are able to support redundant networking in case of network failure, and the cost savings compared to traditional system wiring are significant if multiple systems are riding on these redundant networks.”
including the network switch, the digitizing/encoding technology and storage, said Ian Crosby, CCTV Product Marketing Manager, Bosch Security Systems.
As with all technology, people are wary until solutions have been tried and tested. “People do not wish to move out of their comfort zone and modify what has worked fine before,” Schafer said. This is why it is crucial for solution providers to educate and demonstrate any new technology and systems.
Money will be one of the biggest issues when considering the upgrade to an IP system, as less than 1 percent of the budget is spent on surveillance, according to Bill Miller, CEO of Reliable Security.
In this economy, the best option may be to phase slowly from an analog system to a hybrid system, and finally to IP. “Providers need to provide a simple, scalable way to make the migration to IP,” Holtenhoff said.
In order to do this, the new system architecture needs to align itself with the existing system
Casino operators need to be reminded that installing a new IP system may represent savings in the future. “The use of megapixel cameras within a casino allows multiple cameras to be replaced by a single high-megapixel camera,” Bozarth said. Compared to a few years ago, the prices for megapixel and HD cameras have fallen close to analog rates. Prices will hopefully continue to drop, so network cameras become more affordable.
Currently, there are still some concerns about latency and dropped frames. However, once these issues are solved, IP video security will dominate the market, Hirano said.
Satisfying Regulations |
Casinos generate thousands of patrons, and large amounts of cash transactions take place every minute. Aside from the guests themselves, casinos also have to keep a watchful eye on their own employees and satisfy gaming commission regulations. “Surveillance requirements in gaming are driven not just by business and operational requirements, but also gaming regulations that set stringent specifications for the monitoring of gambling businesses and the performance of the surveillance function,” said Jason Oakley, CEO of North American Video. Conversly, the gaming commission in Missouri recently mandated that all casinos in the state move to digital recording, spurring local casinos to upgrade equipment so they could comply with the new rules. These changes in regulations frequently prompt growth spurts among casinos in individual states, said Ian Crosby, CCTV Product Marketing Manager, Bosch Security Systems. |