Surveillance operators are in charge of monitoring the activities that take place in a specific area in order to prevent theft and other criminal activities. These professionals are frequently found in casinos, where large sums of money are exchanged. Because there is a lot of quick movement among dealers and players on gaming floors, operators must be aware of which actions are suspicious and be able to closely monitor quick, deceptive movements. Surveillance workers must be able to sit for long periods of time and pay close attention to detail.
In most cases, no formal education or certification is required to work as a surveillance operator. Individuals in these positions, on the other hand, are more likely to have received training and experience with sophisticated, cutting-edge surveillance technology. Experience monitoring gaming floors is usually required to get a job in a casino.
A surveillance operator’s primary responsibility is to keep an eye on the gaming floor. This employee spends the majority of his or her shift looking at monitors that show various perspectives of a casino. An operator must frequently switch perspectives and be aware of when he or she has discovered suspicious activity. This operator keeps an eye on the actions of both players and employees.
Surveillance operators face a lot of stress on the job. Casinos are fast-paced environments, and casino operators must keep up with the many activities going on. If an operator becomes distracted or takes a break at an inopportune time, the casino may lose a significant amount of money.
Because many casinos are quite large, surveillance officers frequently work in groups. As a result, this type of professional must be able to stick to his or her schedule and work cooperatively with other operators. When an incident occurs on the gaming floor, it is frequently necessary for operators to collaborate in order to locate a potential perpetrator and safely deliver him or her to the appropriate authorities.
Surveillance operators write reports for management and law enforcement officials when incidents occur. He or she must be able to determine which information is relevant to a given situation. An operator, for example, might keep track of the amount of money involved, how a perpetrator attempted to steal or cheat, and how he or she was able to recognize that an incident was taking place. These operators must have excellent writing and communication skills.