Laurie Smock, NAV's Vice President of Sales, weighs in on the benefits of high-definition IP cameras for casino security applications.

NAV demonstrates commitment to customers in the Pacific Northwest by opening a new office in Everett, Washington, near the state's primary gaming area.

NAV is part of the team enhancing security for Denver’s RTD travelers by installing thousands of new high-definition network cameras in stations and in trains and buses. The new HD cameras, a significant upgrade from the old black-and-white analog system, will help law enforcement identify and prosecute criminals, improving safety for the mass transit system.

Compliance regulations in the gaming industry are among the most stringent of all businesses. For security personnel in the casino business, selecting, deploying and maintaining a surveillance system that satisfies all the regulatory requirements is a complex process, and success depends greatly on the knowledge, experience and agility of the integrator.

Behind an unmarked door, the secret surveillance bunker in the bowels of Maryland’s largest casino was humming with activity. A manager on the gambling floor at Maryland Live had called in some suspicious behavior from one of the table-game pits, and the surveillance supervisor was blurting camera numbers like a quarterback calling an audible.

As a trusted systems integrator in the gaming space, you have to be prepared and ready to react at any time of the day, even at night when you are finishing up with dinner and settling in for the evening. The phone may ring at 8:00 p.m. with word that one of your casino clients is having an issue with their surveillance system. Being the first person on call means the end user expects you to be the surveillance master.

In our experience designing and building IP systems for the gaming market we have learned that, along with technology changes, transitioning to IP surveillance involves a multi-faceted adjustment in how surveillance departments operate. The adjustments relate to everything from how a user interfaces with the system to the needed skill set of in-house surveillance technicians.