IP, education and deals draw industry to Global Gaming

LAS VEGAS--A robust market -- there are currently $22 billion in Las Vegas casino projects in the works -- and a host of new technologies boosted traffic, deals and the industry's confidence at this week's Global Gaming Expo. An expanded security and surveillance pavilion, dubbed "Eye in the Sky," featured more than 50 exhibitors. Although the casino market has been slow to embrace IP-based technology, partly due to gaming regulations, most exhibitors focused on showcasing their IP wares. Pelco pushed its Endura line, Bosch talked about the message of convergence, and IndigoVision and Cisco also plugged the benefits of IP. Away from the show floor, surveillance and security practitioners filled rooms to hear experts discuss a myriad of topics ranging from shootings on casino properties to the move from analog to digital technology. In a session on training surveillance personnel, Derk Boss, corporate vice president of surveillance and compliance officer for American Casino & Entertainment Properties, challenged security and surveillance employees to build their knowledge base by attending conferences, networking with peers and completing certifications. "We have to be sitting at the executive table and certifications are a way to get there," he said. Per Lundkvist, chief security and risk officer for AB Svenska Spel, which operates four casinos in Sweden, encouraged surveillance teams to work with integrators with experience in the gaming markets when converting to IP in a talk focused on his company's move to digital surveillance. Back in the exhibit hall, Petards announced that The 101 Casino plans to install its surveillance solution to enable security guards to have 24-hour remote viewing capabilities following the remodeling of its facility. Working with systems integrator Netronix Integration, the casino will install Petard's Universal Video Management System, which will integrate with Axis Communications and IQInvision's IP cameras, as well as Lenel's Access Control System. Pivot3 also announced a reseller agreement with Petards, Frank Baitman, president of Petards said. With this agreement, Petards will resell Pivot3's storage as part of its video recording and management system. Keith Kanestrin, marketing manager for Panasonic Security Systems, said the company was exhibiting after some absent years to boost its market share in casinos, which he said has been especially good in the Las Vegas area and Indian gaming. Panasonic also announced a new alliance with North American Video to push its initiative in this space further.