Five tips on implementing a successful casino security project

Security is of paramount importance for casinos. A successful security implementation will make casinos more secure, efficient and appealing to guests. This article looks at five tips to know when implementing a successful casino security project.
 

Understanding customers

 
Getting a full understanding of the customer site is a vital first step to implement a successful casino security project. “The integrator should work closely with the customer to assess the casino environment and its specific security, safety, operational, and compliance challenges. For the solution to deliver return on investment it is crucial that are integrators are clear about how the system will be used, while looking to identify areas where new benefits and advantages can be offered,” said Koray Ozyildirim, Country Manager for IDIS Türkiye.
 
Needless to say, casinos are different from region to region, and meeting operators’ unique and specific needs is important. “Casino environments are challenging, and customers are unpredictable in their behavior. What works in an Asian casino might not work in a European or US casino due to the different playing styles and customer behavior. Providing the right amount and quality of information to operators is key to the success of a product,” said Erasmus Smit, Senior Enterprise Solutions Manager at Dallmeier.
 

Seamless integration

 
Integrating different security systems on a unified platform allows operators to monitor everything from a single pane of glass. Such integration can benefit various industries, including casinos. “Make sure that access control, video surveillance, alarm systems, and other technologies are fully integrated to provide a unified platform for monitoring and management,” said Joe Fan, Regional Marketing Manager for Asia at Gallagher.
 
Ozyildirim, meanwhile, mentions the importance of the video management software (VMS) in casino security integration. “An essential factor for casino video surveillance which many operators want is the ability to integrate video with their more expansive systems. IDIS technology has been preferred for many of these projects because our ISS VMS management software supports integration with the casino’s ERP software, allowing transaction data to be overlayed on recorded video. This allows for more efficient and effective incident investigation and gives management a deeper understanding of their operations, including staff performance and customer behavior, down to an individual level,” he said.
 

Scalability

 
Given the fact that casinos are often expanding and opening new sites, designing security systems that support operators’ growth plans is key.
 
“We are working with a number of casino operators with expanding local and international portfolios, both through new locations being opened and through mergers and acquisitions,” Ozyildirim said. “If an integrator is designing a solution for a casino operator with venues in several locations, federation services play a vital role allowing for the integration of multiple systems across geographically spread casinos. This will give centralized control room operators the advantages of multi-task, centralized monitoring and management, supporting improved efficiency and cost savings.
 
He added: “In addition, a federated architecture enhances security by enabling control rooms to share video feeds and information across locations, and to send alerts in the event of threats being detected, improving faster response coordination. It also ensures scalability and flexibility, enabling expansion without cost penalties."
 

Cybersecurity

 
Most security systems used in casinos are a now networked, and this inevitably introduces cybersecurity risks. Making sure the systems are fully cyber-secure, then, becomes vital.
 
“In the past casino systems used to be standalone and a purchase was seen as a ‘lifetime’ investment. With modern technology and integration this is no longer the case, and all systems in the casino are IT-based which provides huge advantages but also much greater risk to the business from a cybersecurity perspective,” Smit said. “Using equipment or software from well-known and reliable software and hardware companies is an important first step. Having a maintenance agreement in place that provides software updates that protect the software from newly discovered vulnerabilities is a key component to keeping your IT environment secure. Buy and forget is no longer an option for operators, and keeping systems separate without integration is also not a viable option if you want to create a future-proof casino system that can benefit multiple business units, not just individual departments.”
 

Balance security and customer experience

 
Finally, while security is critical, the customer experience is also key. The last thing casino customers want is feeling they are constantly being watched or monitored. Balancing security and the customer experience, then, is important to retain customers and brand loyalty. “Security measures should not disrupt the customer experience. For example, use discreet but effective technologies like facial recognition for VIP areas,” Fan said.