Dallmeier electronic: contemporary video surveillance in the Hamburg Casino Esplanade

Dallmeier electronic: contemporary video surveillance in the Hamburg Casino Esplanade. The Casino Esplanade in Hamburg is one of the most modern and innovative gambling houses in Germany. Over 170,000 people have visited it since it opened in December 2006. More than 150 highresolution Cam_inPix Color Dome cameras from the CCTV/IP specialist Dallmeier in Regensburg ensure that everything happens above-board, despite the high numbers of visitors.

The casino with its broad entertainment program attracts large numbers of visitors every day. There are 18 gambling tables, ten Roulette tables, four Poker and four Black Jack tables, as well as 140 slot machines. Between games, the bar provides a very relaxing ambience and visitors can expect culinary delights in the restaurant.

Moreover, scores of special events - like poker tournaments and parties - attract even more visitors. 275 employees work in the Casino Esplanade, giving the visitors that “Las Vegas“ feeling for a while. It is important to those running the Casino to always guarantee the best service and the greatest possible safety when gambling. The Casino Hamburg was the first grand casino in the North to receive the international DIN ISO EN 9001:2000 certification.

The Casino Esplanade is groundbreaking: It totally reinterprets the term “Casino” and counts on a stylish, purist and modern interior design, contrary to more classic casinos. The casino also breaks new ground in its use of technology to provide the customers with a safe gambling experience. Otto Wulferding, General Manager of the Casino Hamburg says: “It is very important for us to make our guests feel comfortable and absolutely safe, not least with regard to their stakes. Possible discrepancies at the table need to be clarified quickly and simply. A reliable video surveillance system, providing clear and precise pictures, was therefore an absolute must for us.”

A Custom-made Security System

VTS-Videotechnik from Hamburg together with Dekom Video Security & Network, an independent system house for professional video surveillance and management systems, planned and realised the security system for the Casino Esplanade. The entire technology derives from Dallmeier electronic, a company known worldwide as a specialist in networked casino surveillance, amongst others for its major projects like the Sands and the Venetian Casinos in Macau and the Barona Casino in the USA.

Wolfgang Haack, managing director of Dekom Security & Network: “When you buy products and solutions from Dallmeier, you are also buying their substantial experience in casino projects worldwide. Customers benefit from this fact and I have no doubt that it contributes to their purchase decision.”

Detailed and True-colour Pictures

Gaming is monitored round-the-clock by more than 150 high-resolution Dallmeier CasinoCams (in this case vandal-resistant colour dome cameras) and by ten controllable PTZ dome cameras. With specially developed software, CasinoCams deliver the best picture material possible under specific casino conditions. The company’s integrated Cam_inPix technology demonstrates all its capabilities well under the difficult lighting conditions of a casino. The playing cards and the colour of chips can be identified clearly even though the colour of the table varies, thanks to high contrast and true-colour pictures.

The cameras also compensate for light reflections coming from fast spinning roulette wheels and there are no smear effects. Robert Heymann from VTS says: “Alongside the excellent recording machines and optimum network management-systems, the cameras are ideal for meeting the special challenges presented by casino surveillance. When immediate clarification of disagreements or attempted fraud is required, the accuracy of the colour pictures and the unique detail captured is essential to enable clear recognition of the chips and playing cards.”

Recording and Control

Video streams are presented on three high-resolution flat-screen workstations that are controlled via a digital matrix. This makes the connection between all the various Dallmeier components in the network, and is the core of the surveillance system. In total there are 88 DIS-1/S machines with redundant recording in MPEG-2 format to ensure the best possible image quality.

The single channel MPEG-2 video streaming server is at the same time an encoder and decoder offering triplex functionality - audio and video recording, transmission and replay simultaneously. All other cameras are integrated in the network through six DMS 180 III recorders.

Easy and Intuitive Operation

The entire video system is controlled using the SeMSy management system. Its major advantage is that it can easily be customised in order to fulfil the individual requirements of the client. For example, it is possible to personalise the graphic interface and to integrate individual floor plans. The Casino Esplanade implemented this skilfully.

With just one mouse click the operator can switch to any floor via a schematic diagram of the front of the building. This generates an exact plan of the floor showing the location of every camera. One further click on a camera icon is sufficient to connect to that camera‘s output. The operation of the system is intuitive and self-explanatory.

A Satisfied Customer

Dr Hergen Riedel, press chief of the Casino Hamburg, confirms the customer’s complete satisfaction: “The user friendliness of the system is really impressive. Disagreements at a table can be clarified discreetly and clearly within a few minutes.” If a situation is not entirely clear, the course of the event can be investigated in the security room within a matter of minutes.

The Dallmeier SmartFinder helps to quickly locate the event from the recorded picture material, and the result is shown to both the Chairman and the Croupier. Should a guest, despite a clear analysis, not accept the situation and decide to take the issue to court, the relevant pictures can quickly and easily be burned on a CD and, with the Kalagate Certification, they can be used as evidence in court.

Ready for the Future

The requirements in the Casino Esplanade will surely grow and change in the next few years – for example when new components are added or when new functions are needed. Expansion is straightforward thanks to an open and flexible system architecture. The system is perfectly prepared for the future and makes it easy for the customer to adapt the system to future needs.

Contact:

Dallmeier electronic,
Regensburg, Germany
Tel.: +49 941 8700 0
Fax: +49 941 8700180
info@dallmeier.com
www.dallmeier.com