Surveillance Equipment

• • • Note: the author is not an equipment expert: he has always concentrated his attention on the human side of surveillance, those skills of observation and reporting which must be learned in order to make the equipment effective.
    • Nevertheless, we must all learn to use our tools properly. I cannot train remotely in the use of equipment I have not seen, so I have left this portion of the training totally up to the people who have already learned to use the equipment in place, and those people who install upgrades. However, the following articles may be of help in understanding the role of our equipment, in observing, recording, and especially in preserving evidence.

Vital to the function of the Surveillance Room is its equipment, including the computer system that coordinates and allows the operators to choose what to look at: the monitors, cameras, recording equipment―whether it be VCRs or digital recorders, DVRs or massive server systems―dubbing equipment, photo equipment, and all the equipment used to record reports and communicate both within and outside the department and the casino. Very little has been said about Surveillance equipment in this manual. This is because the equipment, vital as it is, is secondary to the abilities of the operators and their level of training. All the cameras and recorders in the world are of no value without trained personnel to use them, look at them, review them, and prepare the reports of what they have observed. Recent and continual advances in computer equipment and software, data management systems, digital recording, storage and playback systems, and equipment designed to alert observers to unusual activity have brought Casino Surveillance into a new age. However, once again it is the training of individual operators and their supervisors that plays the most vital role. Training on equipment should be done by the supervisors, obtained from the manufacturers or others skilled in the use of specific systems. This manual could not possibly contain even the basics on more than one or two of the newer systems. Managers and investigators should study the Nevada Gaming Control Commission rules under “surveillance standards,” the materials for their specific areas and state jurisdictions or National Indian Gaming Commission surveillance standards as applicable, and any other state and local standards, including any tribal/state compacts that apply to their area. Nevada rules have been used as a basis for many jurisdictions. In many ways, they are the most basic of all rules. Many other jurisdictions, including NIGC rules, are stricter and require more of the casinos under their regulation.

Surveillance Equipment Contents:

1.  Murphy's Law 2. Equipment Problems, Malfunctions 3. Nevada Gaming Control Surveillance Standards (2011) 4. Industry Standards National Indian Gaming Control Act Standards: http://www.nigc.gov/Laws_Regulations/Commission_Regulations/25_CFR_Part_542.aspx Standards for other states and areas can be found by internet search or by contact with the state gaming control agencies concerned.

Each jurisdiction has its own rules for required camera coverage, required recording capability and other aspects of the technical side of this business.

Nevada, New Jersey and NIGC rules can be found through the links on the external links page.