Enhancing Casino Security With KeyWatcher System

Amid rising concerns about crime and financial risk, businesses across diverse sectors are prioritizing robust security measures. Data from Security magazine’s "Security @ the Millennium" underscores the gravity of this issue, revealing an annual loss of $603 billion due to theft and an additional $1.1 trillion in lost productivity. Within this spectrum of threats, employee theft, property crime, and access control pose significant challenges to asset protection.

Within the casino industry, these security concerns are particularly pronounced. Casino personnel often require access to varying security levels, making key management critical in safeguarding the substantial amounts of money handled daily. Recognizing this need, the Oneida Bingo and Casino, situated on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Green Bay, WI, took decisive action to enhance its security and achieve comprehensive accountability through the adoption of a sophisticated key management system.

Key Management System Implementation

Like many casinos, Oneida faced inefficiencies related to the management of floor keys. During standard operations, a dedicated team of approximately ten employees would retrieve casino floor keys, often waiting 15 minutes on average for supervisors to release them under security surveillance. This process resulted in significant time, labor, and productivity losses, prompting the need for a re-evaluation of the system.

Like many casinos, Oneida faced inefficiencies related to the management of floor keys

Consequently, "Project Re-Key" was introduced in early 1998 with Tom VanDeHei as the Project Manager, tasked with deploying a new key management solution across the casino. Partnering with Morse Watchman, a security management firm based in Connecticut, VanDeHei explored their KeyWatcher system—a sophisticated key locker system designed to enhance security.

KeyWatcher System Features

The KeyWatcher system offers advanced management capabilities through personal user codes, enabling access to color-coded "Smart Keys" tracked via detailed security reports. The system is programmed to trigger alarms if Smart Keys are not returned within the authorized timeframe.

"I researched the KeyWatcher and found it to be a security system versatile enough to meet Oneida’s specific key control needs. I told the managers, ‘this is the only system I’ve found that can do it all,’" VanDeHei noted. Before installation, the system required approval from the Wisconsin Gaming Commission, necessitating a comprehensive manual detailing its application in the casino.

Training and Implementation

Upon review, the Commission approved the KeyWatcher, paving the way for its deployment

Upon review, the Commission approved the KeyWatcher, paving the way for its deployment. Ten KeyWatchers were strategically placed throughout the casino, all connected to a centralized computer system. A training initiative was rolled out for the casino’s 1,300 employees, ensuring familiarity with the new system and associated procedures.

"The wait for ten employees to get their keys has decreased from 15 minutes to less than 90 seconds. We’ve had three audits since last December and every key has been accounted for, which is unheard of with other systems," VanDeHei reported, highlighting the remarkable improvements in efficiency and accountability since implementation.

Further Advancements and Outcomes

In collaboration with Morse Watchman engineers, custom software was developed to enhance key tracking, enforce policies, and boost employee productivity. Innovations also included special hand readers that replaced the manual input of user codes.

Innovations also included special hand readers that replaced the manual input of user codes

Integration efforts extended to all six of Oneida’s casinos, with the KeyWatchers interconnected to a main server managed by the security department. The transparency and reliability offered by the Smart Keys have facilitated seamless key accountability across various departments and locations.

A Secure Future with KeyWatcher

Reflecting on the collaboration with Morse Watchman, VanDeHei praised the company’s support, stating, "Among the thousands of companies, Morse Watchman is one of the best companies I have ever worked with. They worked closely with us to install the system, program our customized software, and train our employees." He further noted the system’s capacity for high-frequency key access while maintaining 100% accountability.

For high-security environments like Oneida Bingo and Casino, maintaining rigorous control over key access is non-negotiable. Through the KeyWatcher system’s proven success in achieving full accountability, Morse Watchman’s contributions have been instrumental in fortifying casino security.

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Challenge: The ever-present concerns of crime and risk are motivating business managers across all industries to implement superior security systems. According to Security magazine’s “Security @ the Millennium” white paper presentation, …criminals annually steal $603 billion in assets while also creating an additional $1.1 trillion worth of lost productivity.” Furthermore, employee theft, property crime and access control, respectfully, are the leading threats to companies’ asset protection.

Client: In the casino industry especially, these security threats are weighing heavily on the minds of managers. It is common for casino employees to be entrusted with keys that permit access to different levels of security every day. Considering the millions of dollars exchanged throughout casinos daily, a reliable, secure system to control access to company keys is essential. The Oneida Bingo and Casino, located on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Green Bay, WI faced this security challenge, and was successful in implementing a key management system that gave the gaming facility total accountability.

Key management system

One problem facing Oneida, and most casinos, is the checking in and out of floor keys. Throughout Oneida’s daily gaming hours, a team of about ten employees would remove money from the casino floor to be accounted for in other areas. The team had to wait an average of 15 minutes while a supervisor signed the keys out under the watchful eyes of security personnel. This unnecessary waste of time, labor and productivity signalled that a new system needed to be investigated.

Project: As a result, in early 1998 Project Re-Key was launched with Tom VanDeHei as Project Manager. VanDeHei was assigned the daunting task of implementing a brand new key management system throughout the casino.

Provider: VanDeHei had partnered with Morse Watchman, a Connecticut-based security management company, to set up new locks and discovered that they offered a key management system, known as the KeyWatcher.

Key storage locker system

KeyWatcher is a sophisticated key storage locker system. Its security management features include personal user codes that allow access to color-coded “Smart Keys“, which are tracked using detailed security reports. The Smart Keys sound an alarm if they’re not returned within a designated time period.

Protocol: “I researched the KeyWatcher and found it to be a security system versatile enough to meet Oneida’s specific key control needs. I told the managers, ‘this is the only system I’ve found that can do it all,'” VanDeHei explained.

But before the casino could get the KeyWatcher installed, VanDeHei had to make sure the system met Wisconsin Gaming Commission regulations. VanDeHei teamed with others to write a comprehensive manual describing the KeyWatcher and its proposed use in the casino.

Three training sessions

Implementation: After reviewing the manual, the Commission found that the KeyWatcher met all their criteria and Oneida was granted clearance to implement it. VanDeHei and the Morse Watchman team set up ten KeyWatchers throughout the casino all linked to a central computer. The casino’s 1300 employees underwent three training sessions to become familiar with the system in conjunction with the casino’s new policies and procedures.

Benefits: The results, in VanDeHei’s words, were “phenomenal.” “The wait for ten employees to get their keys has decreased from 15 minutes to less than 90 seconds. We’ve had three audits since last December and every key has been accounted for, which is unheard of with other systems,” VanDeHei informed.

Developed custom software

Furthermore, VanDeHei and Morse Watchman engineers developed custom software to produce special key tracking reports, enforce policies and procedures, and increase employee productivity. Special hand readers were installed that substituted for the employees’ user codes.

Oneida implemented the system into all six of their casinos. All of the KeyWatchers are linked to a main server run by an administrator in the security department. The Smart Keys have made it easy to account for all the keys, regardless of department or site location.

High-level security companies

Success: VanDeHei is very frank concerning his assessment of the company and its products. “Among the thousands of companies, Morse Watchman is one of the best companies I have ever worked with. They worked closely with us to install the system, program our customized software, and train our employees,” VanDeHei commented. “You’d be amazed how many times a day we access keys in this place, and still achieve 100% accountability from the KeyWatcher.”

Like all high-level security companies, gaming facilities such as Oneida Bingo and Casino can’t afford to gamble with the security of its keys. Thankfully, the KeyWatcher from Morse Watchman is making 100% key accountability a lock.

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