1st Edition

Casino Security and Gaming Surveillance

By Derk J. Boss, Alan W. Zajic Copyright 2011
    322 Pages 45 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Almost all incidences of cheating, theft, fraud, or loss can be detected through the surveillance of critical transactions, audit observations, and reviews of key metrics. Providing proven-techniques for detecting and mitigating the ever-evolving threats to casino security, this book covers the core skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to protect casino assets, guests, and employees.

    Drawing on the authors’ six decades of combined experience in the industry, Casino Security and Gaming Surveillance identifies the most common threats to casino security and provides specific solutions for addressing these threats. From physical security and security management to table and gaming surveillance, it details numerous best practice techniques, strategies, and tactics, in addition to the metrics required to effectively monitor operations. The authors highlight valuable investigation tools, including interview techniques and evidence gathering. They also cover IOU patrol, tri-shot coverage, surveillance audits, threat analysis, card counting, game protection techniques, players’ club theft and fraud, surveillance standard operating procedures, nightclub and bar security, as well as surveillance training.

    Complete with a glossary of gaming terms and a resource-rich appendix that includes helpful forms, this book covers everything surveillance and security professionals need to know to avoid high-profile incidents, costly compliance violations and damage to property and revenue.

    Section I: Surveillance in Gaming Operations

    Chapter 1: Camera Operational Techniques
    Chapter 2: Game Protection
    Chapter 3: Internal Theft and Fraud
    Chapter 4: Security Surveillance
    Chapter 5: Standard Operating Procedures
    Chapter 6: Investigations
    Chapter 7: Surveillance Training and Education
    Chapter 8: Statistical Information and Analysis
    Chapter 9: Surveillance in the Future

    Section II: Physical Security in Gaming Operations

    Chapter 10: The Gaming Security Officer’s Role
    Chapter 11: Security Patrols and Assignments in the Gaming Environment
    Chapter 12: Alcohol and the Gaming Environment
    Chapter 13: Table Game Fills, Credits, Drops, and Money
    Chapter 14: Managing and Controlling Incidents
    Chapter 15: Removing Undesirables
    Chapter 16: Arrests and Detainments
    Chapter 17: Theft, Larceny, and Other Property Crimes
    Chapter 18: The Major Security Incident
    Chapter 19: Training Gaming Security Officers
    Chapter 20: Common Casino Scams and Crimes
    Chapter 21: Managing Casino Security

    Biography

    Derk Boss is a well-respected gaming protection operator and consultant with more than twenty-eight years of experience within the gaming industry. He has served in executive positions in security, surveillance, and compliance capacities for American Casino and Entertainment Properties, Grand Casinos, Bally’s, Aztar, Del Webb corporations, and Tropicana Entertainment. The surveillance teams trained and led by Boss have a proven track record of success in the detection of cheating, advantage play, and both internal and external theft and fraud. Boss has earned professional certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Protection Professional (CPP), and Certified Surveillance Professional (CSP). Presently, Derk serves on the Gaming and Wagering Council for ASIS International and is a past chairman for the Council.

    He is currently the president of the International Association of Certified Surveillance Professionals (IACSP) and is one of its founding members. Derk is also a respected author, instructor, and speaker, specializing in the fields of surveillance training and methodology, gaming protection, loss prevention, and the detection of internal and external theft and fraud.

    He has appeared as an expert on several television networks, including the Travel Channel and his technical articles have appeared in dozens of professional journals, including Security Management magazine, which is published by ASIS International. ASIS International is the largest organization for security professionals with more than 36,000 members worldwide. As a speaker, he has been featured at several international conferences including the Global Gaming Exposition, Gaming Operation Summit, and Biometric Summit. Derk currently resides in Evansville, Indiana where Derk is the Director of Security and Surveillance for Casino Aztar.

    Alan W. Zajic is a Nevada licensed independent security consultant specializing in hospitality, gaming and retail security environments primarily in Nevada. He has more than 30 years of practical hands-on experience in security and surveillance operations and served as security director for the Sahara Tahoe and High Sierra resorts in Lake Tahoe as well as corporate security for Del E. Web, Corp. in Nevada.

    Alan is a member of ASIS International where he holds the designation of Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and is currently the chairman of the Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism Security Council as well as being an active member of the Gaming and Wagering Protection Council. He is actively involved in the Northern Nevada and Las Vegas Chapters as well as the international security community. He is also a member of the International Association of Certified Surveillance Professionals (IACSP) where he holds the designation of Certified Surveillance Professional (CSP) and is a member of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC). He is a subject matter expert and track advisor for the American Gaming Association.

    In addition, Alan is an instructor for the University of Nevada at Reno in the Gaming Management Program and at UNLV for the International Gaming Institute in security and surveillance applications. He is frequently requested to present sessions at international security conferences and for various organizations throughout the country. Further, he is frequently called upon to serve as a forensic security consultant (expert witness) in gaming, hospitality, retail, bars and nightclubs, and multi-unit housing environments nationally and in Nevada. His practice areas include forensic consulting, management consulting, major incident management, policy and procedure development as well as conducting tailored training programs for gaming operations.

    Drawing from the experiences of their peers and colleagues in the industry, Boss, a gaming protection operator and consultant, and Zajic, an independent security consultant who teaches in the gaming departments at the University of Nevada in Reno and Las Vegas, explain the skills, knowledge, and techniques for detecting and mitigating threats to casino security and protecting casino assets, guests, and employees, for supervisors and investigators/agents. They discuss the most common threats and how to address them, from physical security and security management to table and gaming surveillance, as well as internal theft and fraud. Topics include IOU patrol, tri-shot coverage, conducting close watches, set-up and conduction of surveillance audits, threat analysis, statistical review, basic strategy, card counting, game protection techniques, loss prevention, players' club theft and fraud, surveillance standard operating procedures, training and investigation, and security surveillance.
    —In Research Book News, booknews.com, February 2011

    It’s professionals like Al and Derk who personify the professionalism that is crucial when establishing and operating modern casino security and surveillance departments. This book will quickly become the Bible for any security and surveillance officer.
    —Roger Gros, Publisher, Global Gaming Business Magazine