Casinos are being built at a rapid rate but not to the same scale as they were in the past. Rather than constructing large mega-casinos that have dominated the industry for so long, companies are building smaller facilities that have tighter budgets. While decision-makers may not be able to spend as much on security, it does not mean the casinos will be any less secure, according to a Source Security report.
Surveillance cameras, for example, can leverage IP networking technologies that enable organizations to use highly innovative solutions for a lower price than traditional analog products. This is especially enticing for smaller casinos in a volatile economy, as IP solutions reduce the need to connect each device via coaxial cables, resulting in lower investments, the news source said.
IP technologies also allow multiple technologies to tie together to form a unified, integrated security system. As a result, smaller casinos can create a centralized monitoring station to oversee surveillance, intercom and access control systems. This boosts physical protection without dramatically increasing cost.
A separate report by IMS Research confirmed the growing demand for IP-based surveillance cameras, as the market analyst firm forecast that 2013 will be the year when IP products outsell conventional analog devices. The study noted that roughly 80 percent of North American surveillance integrators use some IP solutions, while this amount is predicted to jump to 90 percent by 2015.
"The arrival of IP technology has instead bought its own questions and simultaneously changed the shape of the marketplace," the report said.
As security systems continue to evolve, it will become increasingly important that business decision-makers leverage innovative solutions capable of enhancing crime deterrence without significantly driving costs.
