Casino Security Surveillance: "Eye in the Sky"

We are not going to talk about celestial phenomena but about very common thing, at least for the casinos. Why is it called that way “eye in the sky”? There is a very good explanation – just look at the ceiling and you will understand why.

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Usually the Gold Canadian casinos security department is small, but it bears huge responsibility. As we can see in many movies, it is a room with tens of screens, each catching unique moments downstairs.

All-seeing Eye

Technological advance is moving forward very fast. If twenty years ago we could not imagine cell phones, now they are so real and available to everybody, so what can we say about the cameras, which have already existed for over 50 years? “Eye in the sky” is a small device, which can turn 360°, zoom in and catch the serial number on the banknote you hold in your hand.

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“Eye in the sky” can track person from the parking lot to his hotel room including all the places he went to in the hotel complex. This device is designed not only to prevent the players’ fooling the house but also honest players, who may become victims of the crime.

CCTV

Closed Circuit Television means that everything recorded is not broadcasted but stored for internal use. If some kind of cheating takes place, the tape can be used in the court to prove that the person guilty or not guilty, of course.

Also it is a good way to improve the customer service. Again, with the help of the tape person can prove that he was fooled by a dealer, cashier or the attitude was not proper.

Nowadays almost all casinos switched to the digital storage of the information, as it is more convenient and saves the space. Some of them use facial recognition in order to protect themselves and the players.

And Even More

Some casinos also started taking pictures of the gamblers, while they are playing slots or different table games. But at the same time they understand that such practice can annoy people, because somebody is watching them all the time. And they would simply leave for the places, where they would not suffer from extra attention.

The reason the surveillance systems are improved every year is that people know, that there are tons of money in casino and they will always try to get some. The cheaters improve their habits; the guard needs to do even more in order to avert illegal acts.

Literature

There are books written about “eye in the sky” technology. Among them is Eye in the sky: a casino surveillance guide for management, directors and other casino executives and personnel (1993) by John M. Brubaker.

Another book worth reading is Casino surveillance: the eye that never blinks (1996) by George L. Lewis.