Protecting a People, a Culture, a Thriving Economy

Chickasaw Nation wanted to migrate from a multitude of disparate surveillance systems to a single, network-based video management platform. They also wanted to standardize on a single camera supplier, one with a broad portfolio that could satisfy the diverse surveillance needs of more than 150 properties ranging from casinos and resorts to health clinics, daycare centers, retail stores, museums, and cultural centers. They wanted a camera vendor who would be responsive to the tribe’s needs – whether providing their system integrator with quick turnaround on volume orders or accepting feedback for product development. 

Axis cameras reduce card cheating at their 22 gaming facilities because they filter out reflective light from a card’s surface, which allows surveillance to clearly see which cards are being played and what everyone has in their hand. Custom colored domes and low-profile camera models enable more discrete surveillance. Multi-sensor cameras reduce installation costs while providing wider surveillance coverage. Axis’ broad portfolio allows the surveillance team to be more cost-conscious when selecting cameras, choosing basic models for properties with simple surveillance needs and more feature-rich models for properties with complex surveillance challenges.

“The Chickasaw Nation is like a big city,” says Kenny Mayfield, director of surveillance for the Chickasaw Nation. “It’s not just casinos and gaming. We run our own medical centers, pharmacies, preschool and daycare centers, retail businesses, cultural and historic sites. We even own and operate several travel plazas.” In total, the Nation provides surveillance for 155 tribal-owned properties.

While the tribe was cohesive about its goals for the people, its use of video surveillance technology was not. “When I joined the surveillance department, surveillance was pretty fragmented and difficult to manage,” explains Mayfield. “We were supporting a mix of disparate surveillance systems that couldn’t integrate with each other. Some of our large casinos were even running multiple dissimilar systems within themselves.” 

After spending time testing and comparing video management systems, the surveillance team concluded that the Milestone platform would deliver the performance, flexibility and scalability needed to manage and secure tribal facilities. The Chickasaw Nation chose the Milestone XProtect Corporate video management software for its large properties and Milestone XProtect Professional+ for its non-gaming sites. 
 

AXIS Optimizer, a free application that optimizes the performance of Axis cameras in Milestone XProtect, gives administrators and operators direct access to countless camera capabilities through the VMS platform. That includes controlling everything from remote auto-focus and privacy masking to adjusting device settings, uploading firmware, and much more.

“In that case, we would access the facility’s cameras remotely to find out what’s going on while our Lighthorse Police Department dispatch officers to the scene,” explains Nick Burger, senior surveillance manager for the Chickasaw Nation.

Mayfield also notes that the Axis cameras deliver sharp images even in extreme lighting conditions. “We get great detail whether the area is darkly lit or flooded with flashing neon lights,” states Mayfield. “They’re great at helping us catch card cheats because they can filter out the reflective light from the shiny surface of our playing cards. So surveillance can clearly see which cards are being played and what everyone has in their hands.”

In one instance, a huge tornado tearing through the Newcastle area not only caused massive destruction but also knocked out electricity and phone service. Luckily, the cameras and computers were linked to backup generators. “It was an enormous relief when we pulled up the cameras and saw that the building was still standing,” recalls Burger. 

Burger cites how Axis created black domes for their casino cameras so they could discretely blend in with the dark ceilings. Axis also modified a 360-degree fish-eye lens camera to make it easier for technicians to install and reset.

In addition to being open to customer suggestions, Burger especially appreciates the ordering guidance Axis posts online for its partners and end customers. “Axis offers a lot of mounting options and does a great job on their website telling you exactly which mounts fit each camera. Without that information it would take us days and days to figure what we needed and how many to order,” says Burger.