Casino Security and Technology

Transcription

1 Casino Security and Technology This month we asked our panel of distinguished guests to explain the biggest security issues tribal casinos are facing today and the technology being developed to meet those challenges. Our panel also looks to the future to discuss the next generation of casino security technology. Gary L. Powell, CSP Consultant Cyrun (702) SECURITY: Throughout my visits to different tribes within the last year, I have asked the question, who is going to take over and run the casino/resort when the elders are ready to retire? It is time to start training the youth, with the passion to learn, on what their elders have worked so hard to build. The youth should be slowly worked into the different areas of running a resort/casino through proper training and mentoring. The lack of teamwork between security and surveillance is industry wide. I feel this is often due to improper management. Since surveillance does not get involved physically on the casino property, security can be considered the enforcement arm of surveillance. This type of liaison must start with the department heads by training both departments on how and why teamwork is beneficial in increasing the protection of the property's assets and liabilities as well as opening up a communication flow. Subsequently, proper teamwork is essential in overall guest protection and liability claims. There is probably more money paid out in lawsuits than actual cheating losses. TECHNOLOGY: Alliance Casino Enforcer (ACE) is a complete and integrated casino security management system that was designed by law enforcement personnel. This system was designed to fulfill a casino's unique gaming industry requirements, such as loss prevention, guest security, cash escorts, and critical alerts. This suite of Microsoft Windows-based products has been used for high-level emergencies, such as armed robberies and pursuits, to the Gary Powell daily operations of police, fire, and security personnel since Computer aided dispatch (CAD), records management (RMS), officer reporting, lost and found tracking, investigative tools, security analysis, mug shots and incident photos are among the many tools available in this product suite. ACE will also allow casinos to share critical alert data on unwelcome guests. This creates teamwork and communication between security, surveillance and key management, and eliminates redundancy. This system is currently being utilized by numerous tribal casinos as well as properties such as Harrah's, law enforcement agencies, mass transit and fire response teams, to name a few. THE FUTURE: Gaming has progressed faster than both aviation and space travel. I do foresee security and surveillance systems that will track anyone or anything with its cameras automatically. Once a camera is fixed onto the individual or object, the camera would change and move on its own while at the same time automatically switch to the best camera(s) available. Modern technology never fails to amaze me. I'm sure future technology will continue to amaze us. I do know that if one does not keep up with the technology, it will soon pass one by. 28 Indian Gaming September 2006

2 Kostas Mellos Sales Leader, Enterprise Video GE Security, Engineered Systems (800) SECURITY: Gaming establishments have to abide by the security standards set by state and tribal regulators for casino floor and backroom operations. They must also be able to protect guests and the property while preventing false liability claims. To monitor and manage the flow of people and money in their facilities, they require high-resolution video, extensive video storage capacity and remote transmission capabilities. In fact, new systems that push the envelope are often conceived in casinos. Casino operators need systems that can handle thousands of cameras, digital recorders, access control points and more. With innovations like ultra-smooth PTZ cameras, advanced video compression, high-density switchers, electronic access control and fiber-optic networks, casinos employ some of the most sophisticated security systems in the world. TECHNOLOGY: A key to operating a video surveillance system is the matrix switcher, which is asked to perform a very simple job - when a camera is called up, the video signal must be passed on to a video monitor. Originally quite big, these monoliths carry out the same task as their little brothers. But, instead of handling 8 to 16 cameras, matrix switchers manage thousands of cameras and eat up a lot of floor space. For that reason, many casinos are using GE's Digiplex high-density system matrix switchers. The footprint on this high-density matrix switch is quite small. A single 84-inch rack can switch 1,024 inputs into 256 outputs. The main chassis measures only six rack units and holds two 3U sections. Plug-in cards fully expand the system - 12 card slots (96 ports) are available for input or output in each 3U section. A maximum of 4,096 inputs by 256 outputs are possible, as is connection to as many as 32 satellite (remote) sites. Authorities also want camera inputs being recorded at all times. For instance, if the pit boss calls the monitoring room, asking them to check out the gentleman at Table 7 and see what he's been doing the last few minutes, the system cannot stop recording. Security personnel must be able to continue to view what is happening. Thus, GE's Triplex capabilities must be available with the digital recorders, allowing personnel to watch live video, watch recorded video and continue to record, all at the same time. Kostas Mellos At leading casinos, multiple users can simultaneously view the same live or recorded data, conduct searches for specific video, create evidence CDs, and perform system administration functions based upon each individual's user rights. THE FUTURE: Casinos now want to add intelligence behind the cameras. Not only do digital video systems have a great advantage over analog systems when it comes to storage and recording, they are much more flexible and easily let casino security managers add new functions, such as video content analysis. With such integrated systems, they can detect incidents in real time, often before an event gets serious. Video content analysis can run in a variety of environments, but their real potential is only used if they are tied with other security applications, which can trigger the necessary and relevant actions when an event is detected. For example, if the casino detects a counter at one of their tables, they want to immediately notify security agents on the floor via pager, cellphone or PDA. They will automatically want to tag video from any cameras that have been watching the person. As such, it is imperative in today's casinos that the video security architecture, such as GE's VisioWave Intelligent Video Platform, is open, able to manage any requirement of an intelligent video security system, from central configuration to video streaming, events and alarms management to networked pre/post recording. With VisioWave, video content analysis can be done anywhere in the intelligent video security network - centralized, locally or embedded. Plus, the open video VisioWave Intelligent platform allows third parties to completely incorporate their video processing applications - abnormal behavior detection, camera displacement detection, crowd density measurements, crowd management, incident detection, loitering, left object/removed object, people counting, scene change, suspicious events detection, waiting line measure and a host of other applications created by specialists in their fields - to be fully integrated into the system. Full integration provides common configuration, management and easy interaction with other key features of the system, such as pre/post alarms, sirens and notification, September 2006 Indian Gaming 29

3 among others. The surveillance system literally understands the scene and sets off alarms only when required conditions are met. In other words, the system is intelligent. Andrew Jackson System Sales Manager Honeywell Video (800) SECURITY: While many casinos have converted from VCRs to digital, many others are holding back. The time will come when VCRs can no longer be supported, and we can expect an unprecedented demand for digital. While supply of product should not be a problem, finding an integrator who is experienced in digital installations specifically for the gaming arena and is able to complete the installation in a timely manner may be. Security issues vary from property to property. There are two common problems that seem to exist at all casinos no matter what the size: Theft or fraud at cash registers, and liability issues. New enterprise level solutions provide improved security management of multiple areas. These solutions enhance a casino's bottom line through proactive loss prevention. TECHNOLOGY: Honeywell Integrated Data Manager (IDM) is a software solution developed specifically to simplify investigations involving cash registers and other data sources. IDM gathers data from the source via a single Ethernet connection, stores that data, and synchronizes the data with the digital recording of the camera or cameras covering each terminal. Unlike traditional POS solutions where text is recorded over the video and risks possibly obstructing the video, the video and data are displayed side by side on the IDM Viewer. Video and data can be viewed live in real time. In addition, exceptions can be configured to alert observers that a predetermined set of parameters has been satisfied. Exceptions will show in the IDM Viewer as they occur, but they can also be recalled easily at a later time. Transactions are easily sorted, and a simple click of the mouse will instantly recall the associated video from five seconds prior to the beginning of the occurrence in question. When the video is played back, the associated transactions are displayed exactly as they occurred. IDM provides both predefined and custom reports to provide accurate and instantaneous mining of all captured data. Data can be sorted and associated video instantly retrieved with its data perfectly synchronized. The system supports automatic notification of exceptions and reports. It is extremely user friendly, simple to configure and easy to operate. In addition to providing our video solutions to casinos today, we have Andrew Jackson expanded our audience to food and beverage directors, finance, and general managers. Our customers have quickly discovered that the return on investment for IDM is extremely short, and have realized that savings apply straight to the bottom line. IDM also offers driver license scanning and validation which can guard against potential costly litigation. By using the driver license scanning feature, fake IDs are exposed and products and services can be restricted from those who are underage. The driver license scan and associated video of the license holder may also be stored and retrieved when required. It's important to remember that when dealing with liability issues, quality of recorded video is directly proportional to incident resolution. It is widely perceived that purchasing a digital recording system with 4CIF resolution will provide the best recorded video quality available. While this is partially correct, it is also possible that a 4CIF recording can produce lower quality than a VCR with a bad tape and dirty heads, the direct result of the compression applied after the 4CIF image is converted from analog to digital. The reasoning behind this is simple the further the image is compressed, the lower the quality becomes. Greater compression results in lower storage requirements, thus lowering the cost of purchase. However, any savings at the time of purchase are quickly negated if the recorded video quality is not sufficient to make a determination to resolve a liability claim. THE FUTURE: There is a lot of interest in video analytics and I believe that radio frequency identification table technology will revolutionize surveillance in casinos. This technology, in conjunction with our IDM software, will provide complete audit capabilities on table games. As a result, player ratings will be accurate and the problem of over comping will be eliminated. Errors and theft at the tables will be instantly obvious, easy to prove, and easy to resolve. To quote one of our customers, Video analytics is exciting, but data analytics pays the bills. 30 Indian Gaming September 2006

4 Raul Calderon National Marketing Manager Sanyo Security Products Division (888) SECURITY: Tribal casinos face the same security issues as other casinos do. Internal employee theft is a significant concern, in addition to dealing with occasional fraudulent claims made by patrons. There is also a growing problem with organized cheat teams who believe that tribal casinos are not as experienced or capable of identifying criminal activity as other casinos are. Raul Calderon TECHNOLOGY: As the security industry continues its migration to an integrated IP-based platform, Sanyo is committed to developing products such as IP cameras for network integration. Because most of the industry is still using analog systems, DVR platform development for integration of analog and digital is still an important area of focus, as are touch-screen GUIs, to bridge and control analog and digital platforms. In addition, Sanyo has developed unique Pan Focus technology for better imaging, allowing clear focus of all elements within the frame. Other developments at this time include HD mega pixel IP camera technology and point of sale application software for slot integration. THE FUTURE: We are looking at the integration of multiple platforms to increase the information provided to the casino. Physical security measures include microchips embedded into gaming chips and cards, automated card counting systems, slot machine POS information integrated with video, even biometrics for the cash count rooms and facial recognition integrated with surveillance video. Video analytics are becoming increasingly instrumental to the security function, and now they are incorporating card counting algorithms and license plate recognition algorithms for exterior security cameras. In addition, mega pixel camera technology above card tables, linked database sharing of suspects and automated tracking systems bring a higher measure of control to casinos. Scott A. Bartlett CEO Southwest Surveillance Systems (702) SECURITY: In my opinion, the greatest security threat that Scott Bartlett the tribal casinos are facing today is the technology itself. The surveillance systems are getting more and more complicated to implement. A casino integrator needs to have MCSE/Network Engineers on staff in order to install the products correctly. We see very few integrators adding this level of staff to help supplement their installations. This results in manufacturers getting involved directly to help support September 2006 Indian Gaming 31

5 products, thus increasing the overall cost of the products. If the technology used gets too expensive, the manufacturers will be forced to implement new technology. This is happening throughout the industry and in many cases these technologies are not backwards compatible. This means that the end users are stuck with the technology that they have and do not have a migration path going forward. These systems will become obsolete within a year or two. The end users need to ask the appropriate questions in order to protect themselves from this rapidly changing industry. TECHNOLOGY: We at Southwest Surveillance Systems have Network Engineers/MCSE certified engineers on staff to help transition this technological leap. We are also IBM/CISCO value added resellers and understand the value that these assets bring. We offer a variety of new technologies such as the new IBM/Datacom solution as well as video analytics. We have even gone to the extreme in our installation practices. In all of the casinos we install, we are installing them as if we were using IP cameras throughout. This enables our casino customers to convert to IP cameras when the time is right without the expense of re-wiring. THE FUTURE: The next generation of technology will be the implementation of high definition and mega pixel cameras. This is currently not a viable solution because too much information is being generated from the cameras, thus driving the recording costs to a level in which it is prohibitive. As the size of hard drives increases and the costs come down, then this will definitely become a viable option. The video analytics are the next technology, which will have a dramatic impact on the gaming industry. To date, there are not many intelligent video programs out there that are designed for the gaming industry, but we at Southwest Surveillance Systems are working closely with several of these software companies to help develop these. September 2006 Indian Gaming 33