By Travis Thompson, Director of Compliance for River Spirit Casino and Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes
Tribal casinos are an integral part of many communities, providing economic development and entertainment opportunities for their citizens. In the United States alone, there are over 400 Tribal casinos operating, earning billions of dollars in revenue annually. While this makes for a flourishing business, the high volume of patrons and money flowing through these establishments presents a unique security challenge, including the potential for active shooters, gun-related robberies, and other threats.
To ensure the safety of patrons, employees, and the casino itself, it is crucial for Tribal casinos to develop and implement a comprehensive multi-layered security plan that includes both reactive and proactive measures, such as physical security layers, artificial intelligence (AI), and emergency planning, while maintaining a welcoming environment and preserving the positive visitor experience.
Physical security
Physical security solutions are designed to protect personnel, hardware, software, networks and data from physical actions and events that could lead to loss or damage to the casino.
These include:
- Security personnel – Security guards and law enforcement officers can patrol the premises and provide a visible presence to deter potential threats.
- Security cameras – Both visible and hidden cameras can be used to monitor activity within the casino and provide evidence in the event of an incident.
- Access control systems – Key cards or biometric scanners can be used to restrict access to certain areas of the casino to authorized personnel only.
- Keyed or electronic locks – These secure doors and prevent unauthorized access.
- Physical barriers – Fencing and gates can be used to enclose the casino property and create a secure perimeter.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence also plays a vital role in maximizing security at Tribal casinos. Proactive and reactive AI-based technologies can help detect potential threats and prevent unauthorized access to the casino property.
Popular AI solutions include:
- License plate recognition – Video analytics can alert staff when a banned customer’s vehicle arrives on the premises, so that they can prepare to prevent entry.
- Gun detection software – Proactive AI-based gun detection solutions can be layered over security cameras to identify the presence of a brandished firearm and provide security personnel and emergency responders with actionable insights in real time.
Emergency Planning
Emergency planning, which is inherently proactive, is another essential measure for ensuring the safety of patrons and employees. This should include the development of emergency response protocols, such as lockdowns and evacuation procedures, emergency communication systems, and first aid training for employees. Training programs for employees can help prepare them for a variety of potential emergencies and ensure that they are able to respond effectively. It is important to regularly test and review emergency plans to ensure that they are effective, streamlined, and up to date.
Reactive Security vs. Cutting-Edge Proactive Measures for Gaming
Security measures like guards and surveillance cameras tend to be reactive in nature. However, Tribal and traditional casinos alike are now researching and experimenting with emerging proactive technologies to provide a safer and more secure environment for patrons. These include measures like the aforementioned AI-based gun detection software, as well as virtual reality training for security personnel, enabling them to practice responding to various emergency scenarios in a simulated environment. Of course, reactive measures are necessary and can be effective in identifying and responding to incidents, but they don’t provide the same level of preparedness that these innovative new proactive technologies offer.
Overall Protection
The development of an effective multi-layered security plan that includes both proactive and reactive solutions is critical for all gaming casinos. It can help protect against not only active shooters and other physical threats, but also financial crimes such as money laundering and fraud. These crimes can not only damage the reputation of the casino, but also have serious legal consequences.
By implementing a combination of physical security measures, AI and emergency planning, Tribal casinos can create a secure environment that protects against a range of potential threats. The use of analytics and emerging technologies can provide real-time data and insights that can help casinos to better understand and mitigate potential risks. While the adoption of these technologies may be intimidating for some establishments, the benefits of enhanced security and improved decision-making capabilities make it worth the investment.