A few years ago, the gaming section of the A and S Leisure Group Limited decided to move out their London Leicester Square Casino premises. They already had casino premises at their head offices in Sheffield plus others in Bradford, Leeds and Hull. They fixed their sites on Manchester centre and the meticulous planning commenced and the security of the premises was one of those areas. Their other sites have digital Qognify and an analogue Visimetics systems which to be fair was the right choice at the time and the equipment is still working well. When looking at the requirements of the new site integration between the CCTV system and the access control was an important requirement together with good images and immediate video play back with audio.
Overtime more Axis cameras had been installed on their digital sites, so when it was proposed to run a trial of the Axis recording software and Axis camera station software it was not a surprise. The trial was carried out at the Sheffield site, where they could compare it with the existing Qognify system. It was not before the system was approved and the full Axis solution design was being saut. The system designer and Napoleons representatives attended the Axis demonstration suite where additional ideas and suggestions were promoted.
Over a year later, the premises which are under a Hotel in Portland Street Manchester was ready for the installation. Unfortunately, Covid 19 and social distancing also came, so this delayed the project slightly. However, over time close to one hundred cameras where installed, fed by six Axis T8524 network switches and recording on three servers all operating on the Axis Camera station software over four viewing stations.
The Axis “zip stream” technology meant that Napoleons IT manager was satisfied that Cat5E cabling was sufficient and the fact that Cat6E was not necessary gave an immediate saving.
At the staff entrance the Axis A8004-VE intercom is linked through the reception and the door can be opened of deliveries, contractors can enter with a pre issued card and the staff have the biometrics. Externally the premises are covered by the Axis P3245-LVE which are ideal for the variable lighting conditions and the Manchester weather. Internally, the general view areas are covered by the new M3065 mini dome camera which provide a good wide 2MP view at a very reasonable price. The gaming tables, cash areas, bar and the Novamatic machines are covered by the Axis P3375-V cameras with separate Axis microphones attached.
The roulette wheels have been supplied by Cammegh and they also designed and supplied the table displays. Inside theses displays, we have installed Axis F1015 sensors which provides a discrete full view and recording of the roulette wheel and a 60 FPS there is no image distortion.
The decision not to have fully functional dome cameras in the ceiling was made at an early stage in the design and instead they opted for Axis P3717-LPE camera units with four 2MP camera units in each one which provide full coverage and different viewing angle of the areas covered. The cost is similar but a fully function dome camera if left on tour and not manned then it only cover where it is viewing, so the multi head camera solution makes good financial sense and eliminates any potential blind spots. As well as the gaming floor having full camera coverage the perimeter is covered with fixed dome cameras which include the Axis “light-finder” technology whilst back of house areas are covered with the latest Axis M3065 mini dome camera which provides an excellent wide angle view.
The Axis Camera Station system provides immediate retrieval of camera footage and multiple cameras displayed on the one screen without any reduction in frame degrigation.
The initial plan of twelve doors on the access control was eventually reduced the six door controllers as the building design altered. Although all the doors have Axis door controllers the integration was supplied by Quanika the actual fingerprint/card readers were supplied by IEVO, and the “Ultimate” model is CPNI certified, reading both surface and subsurface levels for both internal and external applications.
The Axis Camera Station System is the first to be fitted in a Casino environment in the United Kingdom.
It was designed and projected by David Brock of Brock Business Support Limited, Oldham and installed by AD Systems Limited, Blackpool.
If you have any questions or enquires please contact - dave.brock@brockbusinesssupport.com or please feel free to use the button below.
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