Reno Casino Deploys DVTel Video Surveillance Technology

  • Apr 24, 2009

DVTel Inc. recently announced that the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa has standardized on the DVTel Intelligent Security Operations Center (iSOC) to provide video surveillance throughout the entire entertainment and hotel complex.

The 1,000-room Atlantis recently completed a $75 million expansion that included a new poker room, race & sports book, sports bar, Manhattan Deli, new ballroom and meeting rooms, a skybridge connecting it to the Reno/Sparks Convention Center and an all-new spa unlike any other. The newly expanded Atlantis boasts a 61,000 square foot casino, open 24 hours a day, with 1,452 slot machines and 42 table games.

At present, the iSOC manages data from more than 700 analog cameras and growing. Areas under surveillance include gaming tables, money counting cages, public areas, parking lots, hotel areas and administrative offices.

The casino’s previous video system was an unwieldy combination of VCRs and DVRs that provided little in the way of effective surveillance while burdening staff with a large equipment footprint.

“Our former mix of technologies was time-consuming to do video reviews, we needed greater efficiency and system expandability,” said Michael Brutsche, director of surveillance. “We also wanted both the surveillance (gaming) and security (non-gaming) video monitoring systems combined on one platform, but securely partitioned apart. With DVTel, now everything is right there at our fingertips and we can delegate camera and monitoring management exactly where we want.”

Atlantis does both live monitoring of key areas in the casino and recording of all cameras. Previously, all camera data was viewed only from one location. With the DVTel iSOC, Brutsche maintains six monitoring workstations and he can add workstations anywhere else he needs them for senior staff to review casino action. All gaming and other strategic areas are recorded at 4 CIF and 30 frames per second (fps). “Back of the house” and other secondary areas are captured at 2 CIF and 15 fps.

“The user interface is great, and we can quickly research more incidents than ever before,” Brutsche said. “Our ability to more efficiently complete incident reviews means more of our staff time is devoted to live monitoring and catching people doing what they shouldn’t be doing.

“This is a 24/7 operation, so every hour of every day ‘live eyes’ are the priority. Table games, point-of-sale transactions, cash and chip counting -- we’re watching all of them, all the time.”

Atlantis continues to expand and that means they continue to add cameras in order to monitor gaming operations, but also provide a safe environment for all.

“Most people think video monitoring is there just so the establishment can catch the bad guy,” Brutsche said. “We also want to make sure we’re monitoring all areas of the casino, hotel, parking lots and back of the house to help ensure the safety of our guests and our team members.”

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