Not too long ago, the state of Nevada was the only place in the United States where you could legally gamble. Today, there are few communities that are longer than a half-day’s drive from some form of legal gaming establishment, be it a modern-day riverboat, Indian casino or lavish Las Vegas or Atlantic City resort.
According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), there are now more than 1,500 casinos operating throughout the Untied States. And the number continues to grow.
This has created an employment opportunity previously unknown in most parts of the country: Gaming Surveillance Officer.
Gaming Surveillance Officers can have two general areas of responsibility. If they work for a casino, their job is to make sure guests and employees behave properly. They keep a close eye out for cheating, theft and other illegal or improper activities. This can be done:
- Electronically from a central security center with video links to all critical parts of the casino
- Visually from behind walls of one-way mirrors (usually elevated)
- At ground-level by physically walking the casino and observing guest and employee behavior
Gaming Surveillance Officers also work for state licensing boards. Their job is to observe casino operations from the “inside” to make sure the casino itself is operating within local laws and regulations.
Preparing for a Career in Gaming Surveillance
Gaming surveillance can be a challenging, exciting and rewarding career. To apply for such a position, you should:
- Have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent
- Have some additional training or certification, such as an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice
- Have superior observational skills as well as good oral and written communications skills
- Be physically fit with better-than-average strength and reflexes
Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree
Training in Criminal Justice is currently available through Everest College. To see if there’s a Criminal Justice program near you, please contact Everest today!
