Murphy’s Law
Murphy’s Law
By Jim Goding
There is a “law” of the universe, known as “Murphy’s Law,” which is especially important to us in Surveillance.
This law is very simple: Anything that can go wrong, will.
In a Surveillance Room, there are many applications.
If your MegaBucks camera dies and you don’t know about it or don’t report it to Slots Department, someone will hit it or attempt to cheat it on your shift.
If you don’t have a Craps game recording–you have used the PTZ elsewhere, or the recorder has gone out, whatever–someone will steal chips from a player’s rack.
If your wheel camera is out of focus, the dealer will mis-mark a number when there are six players, all of them placing multiple bets all over the layout. If you have used the camera for another game, someone past-posts.
If a drvie goes down for a cage recording, a customer will question a cash-out on that window.
There is no explanation for this phenomenon. It just happens.
The only thing you can do about it is to do your job and don’t miss the details.
Make sure the cameras are trained and focused on the tables and areas you think they are.
Check your recorders frequently to ensure they are in fact recording.
Never put your game cameras on inactive areas when games are open.
Keep as many active areas in view and recording as you possibly can, and be sure that everything that should be covered on a game, is.
Report technical difficulties when required so they can be fixed. While waiting for a fix, pull other cameras in to cover the area, and notify the seniors in the area so that if necessary (as required by regulations) the games or activities can be shut down.
If you don’t do these things, they will come back and bite you.
