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Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators: Job Description
Observe gambling operation for irregular activities such as cheating or theft by either employees or patrons. Investigate potential threats to gambling assets such as money, chips, and gambling equipment. Act as oversight and security agent for management and customers.
What Tasks Do Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Do?
Typical responsibilities of gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators cover:
- Monitor establishment activities to ensure adherence to all state gaming regulations and company policies and procedures.
- Observe casino or casino hotel operations for irregular activities, such as cheating or theft by employees or patrons, using audio and video equipment and one-way mirrors.
- Report all violations and suspicious behaviors to supervisors, verbally or in writing.
- Develop and maintain log of surveillance observations.
- Inspect and monitor audio or video surveillance equipment to ensure it is working appropriately.
- Review video surveillance footage.
- Act as oversight or security agents for management or customers.
- Supervise or train surveillance observers.
What Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Need to Know
Successful gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Armed Security Officer
- Casino Enforcement Agent
- Casino Investigator
- Casino Security Officer
- Casino Surveillance Officer
- Dual Rate Surveillance Officer
- EMT Security Officer (Emergency Medical Technician Security Officer)
- Entertainment And Recreation Industry Surveillance Operator
How Many Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Are There?
There are about 349,382 gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $33,021 |
| Hourly median | $15.88 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $26,367 |
| 75th percentile | $39,674 |
| 90th percentile | $46,328 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $61,090 |
| North Dakota | $58,480 |
| Indiana | $58,110 |
| Michigan | $51,980 |
| Arizona | $49,520 |
| Maryland | $49,410 |
| New Jersey | $49,190 |
| New York | $48,720 |
| Oregon | $48,330 |
| Nevada | $47,220 |
| Washington | $46,220 |
| California | $45,190 |
| Illinois | $43,590 |
| Wisconsin | $43,040 |
| Colorado | $42,750 |
| Virginia | $42,480 |
| Minnesota | $41,200 |
| Florida | $39,730 |
| Idaho | $39,240 |
| Iowa | $39,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,010 |
| Delaware | $38,710 |
| Oklahoma | $37,700 |
| Kansas | $37,430 |
| South Dakota | $37,250 |
| Alabama | $36,970 |
| Kentucky | $36,920 |
| New Mexico | $36,910 |
| Mississippi | $36,670 |
| Missouri | $36,380 |
| West Virginia | $35,490 |
| Texas | $34,020 |
| Louisiana | $33,960 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,720 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $61,090 | 0.8% | 0.36 |
| Great Lakes | $50,920 | 10.8% | 1.25 |
| Far Western US | $46,059 | 31.0% | 3.61 |
| Middle Atlantic | $43,527 | 13.5% | 1.25 |
| Rocky Mountains | $41,400 | 1.4% | 0.61 |
| Plains States | $40,861 | 9.4% | 1.72 |
| Southwest | $40,003 | 19.1% | 9.34 |
| Southeast | $36,958 | 11.6% | 1.85 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | IN | $105,990 | 110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $66,370 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $59,370 | 30 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | IN | $53,060 | 80 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $51,030 | 100 |
| Tucson, AZ | AZ | $50,400 | 80 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $47,920 | 690 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $47,780 | 250 |
Industry Breakdown
Most gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 4,850 | $40,310 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 3,230 | $44,690 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 260 | $48,120 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Sitting
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
Typical gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Primary-Short)
- Gambling Managers (Primary-Long)
- Compliance Managers (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Security Management Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts (Supplemental)
- Information Security Analysts (Supplemental)
- Computer Network Support Specialists (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators typically earn programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-9031.00 (Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators).
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