Equipment Problems
Equipment Problems, Malfunctions
By Jim Goding
Any time there is a major problem with the switcher (computer controls, joysticks, keyboard or other means of selecting, controlling, recording or accessing recorded video), or with cameras or recorders, Surveillance investigators must notify the Supervisor, chief tech or Director immediately. If one is in a department large enough to have its own technical personnel, the chief technician should be the next one notified. If one is in a strictly regulated gaming environment with onsite Gaming Control presence, the third person should be the on-duty Gaming Control agent. This includes specifically all dedicated cameras, recording apparatus and especially any coverage required by Gaming Control regulations. Examples would include power outages, where everything goes out, or if a hard drive goes bad and a whole section of camera recordings dies, or cameras or recorders go down on required coverage of any kind. Make sure you notify the affected department (Slots, Table Games, Security) so they can take appropriate action. For example, if recorders on MegaBucks should malfunction, the Slots Manager must be immediately notified until something can be done to cover those machines. This is Gaming Control required coverage, and if coverage is interrupted, the casino is in non-compliance with applicable Gaming Control regulations. (See also “Murphy’s Law.”) When a series of cameras goes out in a critical area such as a Cage or its annexes, count rooms, vaults, etc, Security must also be notified so that a physical Security presence can be put in place to safeguard the major assets, including notification and calls for help should someone have actually sabotaged the system, or figure out that an outage has occurred (major power outage, etc.) and try to take advantage. Also, games such as Caribbean Stud or inter-casino linked slots progressives, must be covered at all times, so if for some reason (cameras die, lights go out on the floor, etc.) they can’t be seen or recorded on camera, the Casino Shift Manager should be notified immediately. This applies as well to any pit areas where games are recorded at all times. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in negotiable instruments (chips) are kept in the trays on these games. Other departments will ask you almost every time if they should shut down the affected games. You must ensure they understand that there is no coverage until repairs are made, and that this situation entails non-compliance with Gaming regulations and a potential situation of a non-verifiable win, theft, or other situation. We do not order into other departments, and the decision is not ours to make. The managers of the other departments should know the regulations, and it is their job, not ours, to assess the risk and take action. If a problem occurs with an isolated camera or recorder and we can provide video coverage using other equipment, make an entry in the daily log describing the problem and corrective steps used. In strictly regulated gaming environments, a notification is also made to local Gaming Control. All such problems require appropriate entries in the required Surveillance Equipment Maintenance Log. Ensure that the Supervisor Investigators and Supervisor of the next shift are also notified of the problem. The Supervisor will write a work order, advise the Director, and record the problem in the Equipment Repair and Maintenance Log. If you have any questions as to what to do, call the Director. Part of his job involves 24/7 notification and handling of serious problems in the department.
