Casino Director Of Security Job
Many people feel that casinos are one of the safest places in the world to visit. Because legalized gaming must adhere to strict state and government regulations, and in order to keep things legal and safe, most casinos have very extensive security and surveillance departments. While many think these two departments are the same, there are tremendous differences. The surveillance department consists of officers who are generally not seen by those outside of the surveillance department.
Additionally, surveillance officers are not usually known or visible to other employees of the casino. They usually work in an isolated area of the casino observing the casino gaming area and other surroundings via closed-circuit cameras.
The security department, on the other hand, is visible. While there may be a number of security officers who are non-uniformed or in plain clothes, the department mainly consists of large number of security officers who are uniformed and identifiable in the casino. The person in charge of overseeing the security department and its operations throughout the casino or casino hotel is called the Director of Security or security director. Within the scope of the job, the individual has a great many responsibilities.
The Director of Security in a casino or casino hotel is expected to lead the department in providing security and protection for guests, employees, and casino property. As part of this responsibility, he or she assures that the security staff protects all areas of the casino and casino hotel, including the gaming area, retail outlets, restaurants, bars, etc., as well as protecting its customers and employees against theft and vandalism. The Director of Security must assure that the security department and the various areas of the casino and casino hotel are in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Additionally, if the casino is part of an Indian gaming facility, the person must be sure that all of the tribal rules, regulations, and laws are met and adhered to.
A big part of the job of the Director of Security in a casino is developing, updating, and implementing procedures and polices for the department. He or she must also periodically review the security measures throughout the facility as well as analyzing procedures and policies to ascertain that they are working effectively for the casino. The Director of Security is responsible for supervising any investigations that are carried out by members of the security staff. The person is also expected to oversee any internal investigations regarding illegal activity on the part of employees. He or she is responsible for reporting illegal activities of employees or customers to the proper authorities. The person will often be the contact between state, federal, and local agencies regarding security issues in or around the casino, casino hotel, or other external areas of the property.
A huge part of the job of the Director of Security is the staffing of the department. Depending on the specific casino and its structure, he or she may select and hire new employees for the department or sit in during parts of the interviewing process with members of the human resources department. The person is expected to coordinate the activities of the security staff, scheduling security officers and giving them their assignments. At times, he or she may need to schedule more officers for busy weekends, special events, or on days when big conventions are expected in town. Assignments may include scheduling staff for routine patrolling of the casino floor, casino restaurants, stores, hotel, and any other additional areas within the property. The Director of Security may also assign security staff to accompany those transporting money to the cages or the count room.
The Director of Security is responsible for assuring that all security personnel are trained in accordance with the casino’s policies and procedures. It is essential that while following these procedures, the security staff have the ability to handle security issues with a customer service attitude. In addition to making sure that all staff are properly trained, the Director of Security also is expected to train qualified members of the department for supervisory jobs. As part of his or her responsibilities, the Director of Security is responsible for evaluating employees of the department. After performing these evaluations, the director of the department may terminate employees who are not performing their jobs effectively. He or she may also recommend promotions when warranted.
The person is responsible for reviewing daily reports prepared by the security staff regarding activities that occurred during their shifts. He or she is also responsible for reviewing any incidents and actions that were taken as a result of theft, cheating, or embezzlement by either customers or employees. As part of this task, the Director of Security must be sure that every incident on the property is accurately documented. The person is further responsible for assuring that all departmental records and reports of any kind are maintained.
The Director of Security is responsible for advising corporate management of incidents and actions that were taken. This is generally done with written reports, but may also be done verbally. In cases where the police are involved, such as in incidents where there is drug trafficking or theft, the director may be the one responsible for providing the evidence necessary for conviction. Additional responsibilities of the Director of Security at a casino and casino hotel include:
- Directing emergency management
- Preparing annual budgets
- Maintaining relationship with police agencies
- Preparing reports for police
- Reporting any incidents to the appropriate parties
- Handling employee disciplinary actions
Earnings for the Director of Security at casinos and casino hotels can vary greatly.
These people may have salaries ranging from approximately USD 45,000 to USD 100,000 or more.
Factors affecting earnings include the specific facility and its size, prestige, and geographic location. Other factors affecting earnings include the responsibilities and experience of the individual.
Employment prospects are fair for people seeking jobs as the Director of Security at a casino or casino hotel. The greatest number of opportunities exist in areas where there are large numbers of casinos.
Las Vegas casinos offer the largest number of jobs.
Other employment settings include casinos and casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississipi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California. Other regions hosting Indian gaming and land-based or riverboat gaming facilities, racinos, and bingo will offer additional opportunities.
Advancement prospects are fair for the Director of Security at a casino and casino hotel. Individuals may follow a number of different paths to climb the career ladder. The most common method for career advancement is finding a similar position at a larger, more prestigious casino, resulting in increased responsibilities and earnings. Other individuals advance their careers by being promoted to jobs as corporate director of security or vice president of security. Some individuals strike out on their own and become security consultants for gaming companies.
Education and training requirements vary for the Director of Security at casinos and casino hotels.
Jobs generally require a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent. Some jobs may require or prefer a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law, or a related field. Courses, seminars, or workshops in casino operations, games protection, fraud detection and prevention, and security will be helpful. Training may have been done in-house as the individual goes through the ranks in the security department, or may be more formal. Some states require all members of the security department including the director to go through a specified training program as well as an annual in-service course to update individuals about changes in the security field and gaming regulations.
The Director of Security at a casino and casino hotel, like others working in casinos, needs to be licensed by the state in which they work. This may be done either through the state’s gaming authority or commission or another regulatory agency. A clean criminal record is essential. Before being hired, the Director of Security will generally also need to go through a complete background check. Most states additionally have minimum age requirements. Those who carry firearms will require a special permit. Depending on the state individuals may also need to a certificate indicating they have gone through an alcohol awareness program or have TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) certification.
The Director of Security at a casino or casino hotel will be required to have a number of years of experience working in gaming security. The amount of experience often depends on the size and prestige of the casino in which the employee aspires to work and can range from five to 10 years in the field. The Director of Security must be a responsible individual with excellent judgment and good communications skills. The ability to supervise others effectively is essential. Organizational skills are also necessary. A knowledge of the gaming industry is needed. Problem solving skills, customer service skills, and the ability to deal with guests, employees, corporate management, and law enforcement agencies is critical.
Individuals interested in a career in this field should contact gaming institutions schools and casino human resources department.
How to get this job
1. Prior experience in police work, the military, or security is helpful.
2. jobs in this field are advertised in the newspaper classified section in areas hosting casinos. Look under the headings of “Casinos,” “Gaming,” “Director of Security,” “Security Director,” or “Casino Security.” You might also look under the name of a specific casino or casino hotel.
3. Jobs may also be located online. Check out the Web sites of casinos and casino hotels. Many post openings on their sites.
4. Don’t forget to check traditional job sites such as Monster.com and Yahoo Hotjobs as well as job sites specific to the gaming industry.
5. You might also check out recruiters and search firms that specialize in the casino and gaming industry.
6. Send your résumé to casino and casino hotel human resources departments.
7. Try to attend casino conferences and conventions. They provide a wealth of networking opportunities.