“We had previously used CCTV to provide an overview of the general play and cashier areas but with our recent refurbishment and new tables, we felt that to meet tough Gambling commission rules, our CCTV systems could also do with an upgrade,” explains Nick Whiten, Operations Director for Dusk Till Dawn.

With 45 tables in its main card room and high roller tables in its VIP section, Dusk Till Dawn is the largest and only poker-dedicated venue in the UK. Based at Lenton in Nottingham, DTD has grown rapidly over the last 4 years to become the eminent venue for poker aficionados’ and location for several high profile international tournaments.

Even within its luxury surroundings, security is paramount and the use of CCTV is prevalent as it is across much of the gambling sector. However, Whiten points out it’s not just about detecting fraudulent behaviour, “People genuinely make mistakes and what we needed was CCTV of a sufficient quality as to allow us to spot what happened to individual banknotes, chips or card hands with the highest degree of fidelity.”

Previously, Dusk Till Dawn had used a low resolution CCTV solution to provide a broad view of the entire gaming floor. Nevertheless, Whiten identified a requirement for detailed “table based” coverage including its new high roller sections where potentially thousands of pounds worth of chips are in play every minute. In response, Whiten approached White UK, its trusted security advisor, for a new solution.

As Matt Camp, MD for White UK explains, “A Mobotix solution was the obvious choice as with 3MP cameras and the ability to work in a wide variety of light conditions, it has proven itself a good fit in other Casino environments.” White UK installed nine D24 dome cameras in the ceiling of the 1500 sq/m site including four overlooking blackjack tables to provide video proof of card hands and chips placed. One camera gives a general overview of the blackjack area, two cameras overlook poker tables and two overlook the cash desk and give a good image of the chips and amounts they are cashed for.

“The level of detail offered by the camera is really impressive and it has allowed us to resolve any issues very quickly,” explains Whiten. By using POE and the included Mobotix Controlcentre software, the whole installation has proven very cost effective and has not required additional software licenses or extensive rewiring of the premises. The new CCTV installation has also been inspected by the Gambling Commission that found it fit for purpose.

“CCTV is vital for our industry and having a system that provides such a high level of quality makes Dusk Till Dawn a better experience for the players and management team alike.” Whiten concludes.