Casino Crime Scene Procedure

August 16th, 2010  |  Published in Security

During the normal course of duty, a surveillance operator will eventually be witness to a crime. Some will be just about to occur, others in progress and more after the incident. Specific procedures have been implemented to ensure proper reporting to law enforcement agencies. This format is applied to all crimes; gaming related or criminal activity.

There are four primary steps to take when witnessing an illegal activity as a casino surveillance operator. These include:

  1. Identity that a crime is being committed
  2. Stay off security communication lines
  3. Notify a supervisor
  4. Give reports to proper individual

The first step a casino surveillance operator must take is to identify that the crime is occurring or about to happen. The first action to take when dealing with a crime that’s a threat to life is to notify security as quickly as possible. Most casinos have an emergency security number. Also, surveillance rooms typically have a security radio for these situations to enable rapid communication.

The second step to remember is stay off the security communication lines other than to answer questions from the dispatcher or supervisors. Full camera coverage will be provided to the security dispatchers.

When the threat does not involve the threat of human life or bodily harm, an investigator must immediately notify their supervisor who directs surveillance activities and contacts security, casino management and executives, the police and gaming control. If the supervisor cannot be reached, the investigator must know the procedure and take appropriate action.

The final step is to give all reports to the surveillance director. Attached will be written statements made during the investigation as well as surveillance and dubbed recordings of the incident. The primary purpose of a surveillance operator is to observe, provide recorded evidence and report the incident exactly how it occurred.

Surveillance operators are necessary for the proper functioning of all casino operations. Unfortunately casinos attract criminals with many different intentions. As a result, operators must be constantly trained on new cheating methods as well as procedural information. They should be able to spot a crime prior to it occurring and react accordingly when it does.

Casino operators are some of the most highly trained individuals in a casino. They must know how to deal with each situation by following procedure and dealing with the proper parties. As cheating methods and critical procedures continue to evolve, casino operators will become even more skilled at their job.

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Basic Characteristics of a Level One Casino Surveillance Operator

June 25th, 2010  |  Published in Security

One of the most important departments within normal casino operations is security. Without the manpower, cameras and constant monitoring, casinos would not be able to function properly. Since gambling inherently draws a few bad seeds, security weeds those individuals out so other consumers can enjoy all the excitement without being swindled.

Different casino’s have different security needs. Small casinos require much less security and equipment than larger Las Vegas operations. Since the gaming market has become such a large and profitable industry, many complementing businesses have emerged. For instance, the need for surveillance employees is at an all time high. Consequently, many businesses have formed to provide this type of training.

In surveillance school, level one candidates learn numerous aspects of the casino to ensure effectiveness. These characteristics include:

  • Knowing the casino layout
  • Following emergency drills
  • Operating a surveillance system
  • Generating daily surveillance reports
  • Forbidden activities
  • Identifying locations from camera numbers

One of the most important pieces of information is to know the layout of the casino in detail on foot. If any issues arise, the operator will know the exact location. Next, it’s important for operators to follow emergency drills. This includes knowing where to go, what is expected of the operator, who will be notified and what must be done.

The candidate also learns how to operate the casino surveillance system. This also includes all surveillance room equipment such as phones and recorders. Another area covered in basic surveillance training is the fundamental requirements for generating a daily surveillance report. These are usually required within the security department.

Additionally, level one operators learn all forbidden surveillance activities. This includes departmental, corporate, legal and court-mandated activities. Finally, operators learn how to identify various locations around the casino by camera number and display from the monitor. This also includes the names of the areas on the casino floor, all locations where a camera is present and the best method for returning a camera to a parked position.

Casino operators are the “eye in the sky” that allow for gaming properties to run smoothly, effectively and within the limits of the law. They also ensure customer safety which, in the end, leads to satisfied gamers and an increase in retention rate. As technology improves, these aspects will become more effective and efficient which will ultimately lead to higher customer loyalty.

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