Ante Up

Casino lighting no longer compromises video clarity

Like many gaming venues, the lighting scheme at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Okla., focuses on creating an atmosphere of fun and excitement. While this worked well for attracting patrons, it did not work well for nearly 2,000 analog surveillance cameras trying to protect the property. With as many as 3,000 people enjoying the more than 2,600 electronic slots, 40 table games, poker room and concert hall on any given day, the casino realized more advanced IPbased cameras specifically designed to cope with the challenges of a casino environment were needed.

“We have a number of issues to contend with,” said John Underwood, surveillance technology manager for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. “Some of the bars and nightclub areas are very dimly lit. The concert and entertainment areas use strobes and spotlights during shows. Some of the slot machines have LED lights that twinkle; some have really bright strobe lights on top. Our analog cameras kept focusing on the lights as the source of movement, not the patrons we wanted to watch.”

The overhead lighting in the cashier area was also problematic, washing out any visible details on bill denominations. In the parking lots, flashing emergency lights from first responders, vehicle headlights and exterior floodlights resulted in blurry video of little forensic value.

They decided it was time to turn the tables on poor surveillance footage. The surveillance team began working with Axis Communications on a secondary buildout using Axis network cameras capable of compensating for any lighting condition while delivering exceptionally high quality recordings of every casino activity. When the new system was completely installed, they simply turned off the live view of the old system and began running the new system.

“We never had to shut anything down during the switchover,” Underwood said. “And we have the flexibility to gradually remove the old cameras during off hours.”

The House Outsmarts Scammers

With so much money at stake, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa has had its fair share of scammers looking to make an easy buck. Thanks to the network cameras, the venue is able to catch them in the act. Network cameras in the cashier area deliver such clarity that it is easy to distinguish between bill denominations. In the parking lot, cameras help to provide evidentiary quality video even with ambulances and patrol cars flashing their lights. The auto-tracking and auto-touring options in many of the cameras provide added safety to staff and guests when the parking areas are less active.

Cameras have also been instrumental in helping the surveillance department apprehend scammers trying to dispose of counterfeit credit cards while eluding casino staff and local law enforcement.

“We’re able to track the individual with the cameras, see whether he’s dropped the fake ID and counterfeit card in a trash receptacle or a drinking cup or whatever,” Underwood said. “When we retrieve this hard evidence, we can use it to successfully prosecute the individual.”

In some instances, the casino also uses the cameras’ two-way audio capabilities to up the surveillance ante. Two primary locations are the security holding area where suspects are detained awaiting the arrival of law enforcement and the cashier area where interactions with customers can be monitored for threats or misconduct.

Greater Security Coverage Made Easy

The intelligent capabilities of the network surveillance solution also helped Underwood and his team efficiently manage and maintain coverage throughout the hotel and casino.

“With as much activity as we have on the property, the cameras and video analytics are essential to handling the surveillance workload,” Underwood said. “They help us focus on the important events and provide the evidentiary footage we need for prosecution and liability protection.”

In the food service areas, the casino uses network cameras to monitor safety and food prep issues. The ultra-discreet fixed mini dome provides a 360-degree panoramic view.

“Because of the wide field of view, we can use fewer cameras and still feel confident that we’re able to document any type of misconduct or accident,” Underwood said. “It allows us to be proactive in any litigation that might arise.”

Additional cameras in the warehouse are used to verify that the incoming pallets match the quantity of product listed on the bill of lading. Underwood’s team installed the cameras in horizontal mode to monitor the dock doors and in Axis’ Corridor Format to look down the warehouse racks where product is pulled and distributed to different departments.

The casino also uses cameras in its food and beverage department, tying video to the live ticketing at the point of sale.

“This helps us track whether employees are providing the right discount to customers or ringing up discounts they shouldn’t,” Underwood said. “It also shows us whether the product being delivered is actually what’s being rung up.”

Insight Over the Entire Operation

Tulsa’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has expanded its use of camera footage beyond safety and loss prevention. With the advent of video analytics such as heat mapping, the surveillance team is able to share valuable insights about prime real estate within the casino.

“We can show the marketing department or the gaming department or the food service people where people are congregating most frequently, where foot traffic tends to bottleneck,” Underwood said.

Having hard data at their fingers allows the casino to make better informed decisions about where to place new food venues or retail shops, or when to reconfigure floor layouts to ease congestion.

“The business intelligence they get out of the video helps them plan more objectively and more logically than they might otherwise have by just basing their decisions on a walk-through of the casino,” Underwood said. “So they can use the information to help grow our overall business.”

This article originally appeared in the February 2018 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.