Four Emerging Trends in Casino & Gaming Security
After the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, casino security leaders are betting on technology and cooperation to revitalize a culture of safety. The ASIS International Gaming and Wagering Security Council shares some top security trends with Security Management.
1. TECHNOLOGY
Some casinos have installed audio detection technology to pinpoint specific noises, like gunshots or aggressive incidents. This technology can increase the accuracy of shot detection, cutting down on response time, reducing situational confusion, and resulting in faster response times. Some facilities are also using smartphone identification software that guests can opt into. Running and recording in the phone’s background, this solution would direct first responders to certain areas where people need help, direct users to safe areas, and provide a security operations command center with analytics via cloud platform.
2. TEAMWORK
In addition to increased coordination with first responders, casino and hospitality security departments are creating specialized response teams that can augment public efforts. Facilities are establishing task forces or networks that can respond to armed assailant situations, communicate with other organizations about the latest threats, and provide medical assistance after an incident. Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel, in Des Moines, Iowa, where Clinton Pursley works as vice president of security operations, added a triage component to its special response unit, which can treat injuries and provide additional lifesaving efforts. “The medic portion of the team is absolutely critical and rounds the whole team out,” Pursley says.
3. DO NOT DISTURB
After the Las Vegas shooting, hotels recalibrated their approaches to the guest experience, putting a premium on safety. Rooms with “Do Not Disturb” signs will be checked within three days’ time or less. Employees are trained to spot signs that guests are stockpiling hazardous or illegal items, or are involved with human trafficking. Simple checks like these can save establishments money, says Alan Zajic, CPP, of AWZ Consulting. He has noted an increase in litigation related to injury from criminal events tied to hotels. Not only do violent crimes regularly trigger lawsuits when they occur on casino property or within the peripheral vicinity, but a single event, like the Las Vegas shooting, can result in hundreds of claims filed by affected persons. According to Zajic, in these claims, “Failure to respond is always the allegation.”
4. CYBERSECURITY
Facilities are stepping up countermeasures to cyberattacks, which have become increasingly focused on personal information, such as credit card data. Because casinos track customers for initiatives like comps or rewards programs, personal and banking information is collected and becomes a significant target for hackers.
