One of the biggest challenges the security technology industry has faced over the years has been keeping up with enterprise expansion. That is, as businesses grow and evolve, so must the technologies that protect them.

The gaming industry is one of the best examples of this trend. The past two decades saw casino revenues climb and overall operations grow. And as activity grew at those casinos, more technology was needed to protect their people and assets.

Case in point: Manitoba Lotteries Corp. (MLC), which underwent expansion during the 1990s and today is a key player within the Canadian Province of Manitoba’s gaming industry.

What makes MLC’s story unique, though, is the foresight the Crown Corporation showed in the 90s to migrate its security system to an integrated platform. MLC accomplished this through an intense market research approach.

Part of that approach included an annual competitive bid process mandated for MLC vendor selections. The process involves extensive research and field-testing with experts to determine which vendors and products work best in MLC’s gaming environment to provide the most effective technology available at the most competitive price.

Overseen by MLC Corporate Security, the integrated security system — which protects MLC’s two casinos, corporate offices and warehouse/office facilities — is not only keeping visitors and employees safe, but is also helping MLC thrive.

“The primary responsibility of MLC Corporate Security is to protect MLC assets, guests and employees, so we always seek to offer the most comprehensive security measures available,” says Dan Sanscartier, associate vice president of Corporate Security and Surveillance. “We take a leading-edge approach to casino security, and this includes ensuring that our security division employs the most effective security measures and tools available.”

In addition to the province’s Video Lottery Terminal Network, MLC owns and operates the Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station Casinos in Winnipeg. MLC’s casinos, corporate offices and warehouses boast a fully integrated security and surveillance system.

Early Integration

MLC’s approach to integrated security can be traced back to 1993, when Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station first opened with non-table gaming, including slot machines, high-stakes bingo and touch-screen gaming. Also during that time, MLC’s Crystal Casino, Canada’s first year-round, government-operated casino, offered table games and slots, but closed when the two other locations expanded and reopened in 1999 with new table games — as well as a new set of security needs and requirements.