Security Guard or Gambling Surveillance Officer
Security Guard or Gambling Surveillance Officer
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What Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers Do
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers protect property against theft, vandalism, and other illegal activity.
Duties
Security guards and gaming surveillance officers typically do the following:
- Patrol property
- Enforce rules and regulations of an employer's property
- Monitor alarms and video-surveillance systems
- Respond to emergencies
- Deter criminal activity
- Control building access by employees and visitors
- Conduct security checks over a specified area
- Write reports on what they observed while on duty
Guards and officers must stay alert, watching for anything unusual. In an emergency, they are required to contact police, fire, or ambulance services. Some security guards carry firearms.
Security guards work wherever people and assets need to be protected. Responsibilities vary by employer. In offices and factories, for example, security guards protect workers and equipment and check the credentials of people and vehicles entering and leaving the premises. In retail stores, guards protect people, merchandise, money, and equipment. They may work with undercover store detectives to prevent theft by customers and employees, detain shoplifting suspects until the police arrive, and patrol parking lots.
Gambling surveillance officers work in freestanding casinos and other facilities that have designated areas for gambling, such as hotels, video gaming terminals, and riverboats. They typically work from an observation room within the gaming facility.
Security guards, also called security officers, protect property, enforce rules on the property, and deter criminal activity. Some guards are assigned a stationary position from which they monitor alarms or surveillance cameras. Other guards are assigned a patrol area where they conduct security checks.
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators act as security agents for casinos. Using audio and video equipment, they watch casino operations for suspicious activities, such as cheating and theft, and monitor compliance with rules, regulations, and laws. They maintain and organize recordings from security cameras, which are sometimes used as evidence in police investigations.
Work Environment
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators held about 10,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 50% |
| Gambling industries (except casino hotels) | 21 |
| Casino hotels | 18 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 5 |
| Spectator sports | 1 |
Security guards held about 1.2 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of security guards were as follows:
| Investigation, guard, and armored car services | 60% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 6 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 6 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5 |
| Government | 4 |
Security guards work in a variety of places, including industrial settings, stores, and office buildings. Gambling surveillance officers and investigators are employed in casinos and other gaming facilities only in locations where gambling is legal.
Guards may spend considerable time on their feet patrolling buildings and grounds or may sit for long periods at a single post, such as in a guardhouse at the entrance to a gated facility or community. Others may spend periods of time in a vehicle, patrolling the property and grounds.
Both security guards and gambling surveillance officers may spend much of their shift sitting at a desk or counter in a dark room, observing customers on video surveillance equipment. They may have to monitor activity on multiple screens for long periods of time without distraction.
Work Schedules
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers usually work in shifts of about 8 hours, with rotating schedules. Night shifts are common. Most security guards and gambling surveillance officers work full time. Seasonal work may be available during the holidays and during the warmer summer months in some states.
Getting Started
How to Become a Security Guard or Gambling Surveillance Officer
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers typically require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Gambling surveillance officers sometimes need experience with security and video surveillance. Most states require security guards to be licensed by the state, especially if they carry a firearm.
Education
Security guards typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, although some jobs may not require formal educational credentials. Gambling surveillance officers also need a high school diploma or equivalent.
A bachelor's degree is not required to enter the occupation. However, some security guards and gambling surveillance officers study in degree fields such as security and protective service or social science.
Training
Although most employers provide instruction for newly hired security guards and surveillance officers, the amount of training varies. Most security guards learn their job in a few weeks, but gambling surveillance officers and investigators may need several months. Employer-provided training typically covers emergency procedures, crime prevention, and proper communication.
Many states recommend that security guards receive about 8 hours of pre-assignment training, 8 to 16 hours of on-the-job training, and 8 hours of annual training. Instruction may include protection, public relations, report writing, deterring crises, first aid, and other specialized training related to the security guard’s assignment.
Training is more rigorous for armed guards because they require weapons training. Armed guards may be tested periodically in the use of firearms.
Gambling surveillance officers and investigators receive training in topics such as the rules of casino games, gaming regulations, identifying cheating techniques, and the proper use of video and radio equipment.
Drug testing may be required both as a condition of employment and randomly during employment.
Work experience in a related occupation
To enter the occupation, gambling surveillance officers and investigators typically need work experience in casinos or with video monitoring technology. Candidates sometimes gain video monitoring experience by working as a security guard.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states require that security guards be licensed by the state in which they work. Although licensing requirements vary by state, basic qualifications for candidates are as follows:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass a background check
- Complete training
Guards who carry weapons usually must be licensed by the appropriate government authority. Positions for armed guards have more stringent background checks and entry requirements than do those for unarmed guards. Most states require rigorous hiring and screening programs, including background, criminal record, and fingerprint checks, for armed guards.
Some states and gaming facilities require a minimum age of 21 to work in a casino.
Some jobs may also require a driver's license.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of security guards and gambling surveillance officers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.
Despite limited employment growth, about 151,700 openings for security guards and gambling surveillance officers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Security guards will continue to be needed to protect both people and property because of concerns about crime and vandalism.
States continue to legalize gambling and casinos continue to grow in number, resulting in the need for gambling surveillance officers and investigators.
Advances in remote monitoring technology, such as robots and drones, to prevent cheating may limit the employment of some security guards and gambling surveillance officers and investigators.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about security guards, visit
The International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Security guards (PDF)
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of security guards and gambling surveillance officers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Correctional Officers and Bailiffs |
Correctional officers guard people in penal institutions and guard those in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Bailiffs are law enforcement officers who maintain order in courtrooms. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $49,610 |
|
Gambling Services Workers |
Gambling services workers serve customers in gambling establishments, such as casinos or racetracks. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $31,290 |
|
Police and Detectives |
Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes. |
See How to Become One | $69,160 |
|
Private Detectives and Investigators |
Private detectives and investigators search for information about legal, financial, and personal matters. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $52,120 |
|
Firefighters |
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $51,680 |