Raising the stakes: Why surveillance and security shouldn’t be a gamble.

The A & S Leisure Group Ltd operates Napoleons Casinos & Restaurants, a popular chain of five entertainment venues across the North of England. Each site is supported by a combination of digital and analogue security and surveillance technologies. When deciding to open the fifth venue in the busy city of Manchester, The A & S Leisure Group Ltd undertook a whole scale review of its security provision with the aim of bringing it up to date and better equipping the casino to address a more sophisticated threat landscape. The new solution would be required to provide full perimeter protection, access control at multiple entrance points, as well as total surveillance of the entire gambling floor to provide a comprehensive ‘eye in the sky’.

The A & S Leisure Group Ltd was presented with a comprehensive overarching solution from a single provider. It comprises an Axis door station, an access control management system, and over one hundred surveillance cameras that cover every inch of floorspace with the capability to watch every roulette wheel and game taking place throughout the hall. Multiple displays, crystal clear audio and the ability to quickly and easily retrieve and package video for authorities, results in a comprehensive system that can not only protect at the perimeter, but also monitor every aspect of operations to guard against theft and fraud. Such is the success of the system that the team are rolling it out across their other venues.

In the past, security and surveillance systems would be provided by separate vendors according to requirements, and often needed regular ongoing maintenance. A trial was carried out at the Sheffield site to test an overarching solution from one provider, Axis Communications, designed by Brock Business Support. The A & S Leisure Group Ltd team was impressed with the demonstration, and additional ideas and suggestions were discussed that would maximise the capabilities of the desired solution.

One hundred cameras were installed at the site, requiring six AXIS T8524 PoE+ Network Switches and recording on three servers, all driven by AXIS Camera Station software running over four viewing stations. The staff entrance utilises an AXIS A8004-VE Network Video Door Station, and all staff are admitted after scanning using a biometric reader. Inside, AXIS M3065-V network mini dome cameras cover back of house areas, providing a wide-angle view. 

The Axis system is, at the core, a single brand end-toend solution, but open for integration with other systems using APIs and standard IoT protocols. It is easily scalable, to meet the growing needs of the business and to help them face ongoing challenges as threats evolve and become more sophisticated. Taking the decision to be open for integration means that Axis can draw on the expertise of its partners for certain aspects of the solution. For example, there are six Axis door controllers on site which use system integration technologies provided by Quanika, while connected biometric readers have been supplied by IEVO. These technologies work together seamlessly with the Axis components to make up the complete solution.