Forrest Nelson - Welcome to Fabulous Casino Surveillance

By Forrest F.Nelson

Copyright 2016 ForrestF. Nelson

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my incredible wifeTina, whose unwavering support was invaluable through the countlesshours, weeks, months, and years of soul-searching insecurities andfar-too numerous rewrites, and to our children and their families.Without everyone's love, support and inspiration this work wouldnever have been started, much less completed. The irregular hours,missed holidays and weekends can never be reclaimed. Through itall, they were rock-solid and unflappable in their support andencouragement. I have never been more impressed and more humbled byany group of people, and could not possibly love them more. I'meternally thankful for their patience, sacrifices and love over theyears.

In terms of understanding, my wife worked inthe business as well as a Valet Attendant and a Bell Captain at amajor Strip hotel/casino/resort and had seen her share of Vegashappenings. She grew accustomed to my non-descript accounts ofincidents with which I had been involved. Jaded by her ownexperiences, she was often underwhelmed when I told her what littleI could of any story. She knew the business enough to tolerate mylame excuses whenever I failed to show up for, or live up to aprior commitment. She was in the business for the fun, the moneyand the exercise. I wasn't, I enjoyed the status and the power-tripmy position afforded me. Her considered opinion was each of us wasin fact, perfectly suited for our respective occupations. Sheclaimed the prestige appealed so strongly to my over-inflated ego,if they hadn't paid me to do the job, I would have done it forfree. She may have been right.

It would be a travesty, a mockery of a shamof a tragedy not to acknowledge my longtime friend, co-worker, andformer student Russ Maynard for his intelligent wit, guidance, andmoral support. I am an admirer of his ability to find the humor ineven the most mundane circumstance. He is truly unique. Unique? Noitsa me, Tony! Thanks Russ.

Also, a heartfelt thanks goes to a formerco-worker Ben Fulkerson who, after listening to me BS through someof my stories told me, "You should write a book!" Here it isBen.

Preface

After a two-year foray into tribal casinosurveillance work in California, I returned to Las Vegas as anew-hire Surveillance Operator in January of 2010. Brimming withconfidence and the experiences of a casino career spanning overthree decades, I was, nonetheless, somewhat restless. As I sat atthe Surveillance console in a major Las Vegas Strip casino,confronted by the forty-eight monitors in front of me and nearlythirty years in Casino Surveillance behind me, I contemplated adecision with the potential to change my life, or what little mightremain. I had held every position from Head Counter to Director ofSurveillance and witnessed, first-hand, the evolution of theindustry from the mob-influenced catwalk days to the technologicalexplosion of sophisticated electronics and computer applicationsthat accompanied the corporate transformation.

My supervisor, always willing to accept theresponsibility of delegating any task possible, assigned mynew-hire training regimen to the twenty-eight year-old reliefsupervisor who had amassed a solid two years of casino experience.So, at the time I made the first catch of my career, which resultedin an arrest, my new trainer was still breastfeeding. In spite ofhis lack of experience, I gave him the respect his positiondemanded and although I felt a little frustrated with thesnail-like pace of my training, we worked quite well together.Relegated to simple data-entry, my immediate task of completing atraining module on Basic Blackjack suffered at the expense of mywandering mind. Instead of concentrating on my assignment, Ireflected on those years and my journey through the industry.

The magic of Las Vegas, known throughout theworld as Sin City, and the mystique of Casino Surveillance; what atantalizing combination. Vegas locals say if you have a weakness,this town will find it. From high-roller millionaires to low-lifedegenerates, I have seen them all at their weakest. From cardcounters, cheaters, thieves, addicts, to prostitutes and pimps.Seen 'em. Average middle-class women, enjoying a casual strollthrough the casino with no regard to being buck-naked, seen 'em.From a variety of sexual encounters to running gun fights, I haveseen them.

Casinos don't want the public to knowcertain information. How many people are in Surveillance? Who arethey? What can they see? What do they do all day? Can people cheatat the tables and slots? How do people make money counting cards?What electronic equipment do they use? Sometimes casinos teach theobservers how to count cards and detect card counters; they teachthem how to play and/or cheat at the table games and at slots andhow to steal from the company. Sometimes they don't teach themanything. Casinos would rather not share such information. Most ofall, casinos don't want you to know what the Surveillance staff isdoing.

People asked me these types of questions andmany more about my job over the years, the interest level is beenphenomenal. But the demands of the industry and the covert natureof surveillance operations compelled me to provide onlyhalf-truths, no information whatsoever, or blatant lies to theseinquiries. I was not at liberty to elaborate on the inner workingsof a surveillance department, everything we did was all a bigsecret not to be divulged. Until now.

Upon returning to my training, I started thequiz at the end of the first chapter with reserved enthusiasm, butwhat I read pushed me over the edge. Here is the actual questionfrom Blackjack Training Quiz: #1. True or False: Not counting theJokers and fact card, a standard deck of playing cards containsfifty-two cards. Seriously? Are you kidding me right now? So afterall those years catching cheaters and thieves, and sending peopleto prison with my testimony, this neophyte trainer treated me asthough I was a raw break-in lump with zero knowledge. I don't thinkso; not with my ego! The test became the tipping point; right thenand there I made the decision to commit the Cardinal Sin ofSurveillance: Never tell anyone anything about what goes on in theSurveillance room. I decided to open the closed doors and sharewith the public: What REALLY Happened in Vegas.

After decades of silence, I am the onlycasino Surveillance veteran willing to unveil the mysteries andexpose the truth about this secretive department. I will share someof my incredible experiences, pepper in small tidbits to illuminatecertain aspects of what happens in a Surveillance room, and showreaders how to protect their own assets when they visit a casino.This book is based on true stories and events that actuallyhappened. The names and some of the particulars have been alteredto protect the innocent. As for my career in the industry, my bossat the time, the Director of Surveillance at a major Strip casino,once pulled me aside after a brief counseling session and told me,I dont know if you are the best Surveillance person Ive everknown, or the biggest pain in the ass! With a smile and a nod, Itold him I was both.

Chapter One: We Were Surveillance

Clandestine, covert and elite. We had thepower and were untouchable; even our boss didn't suspect half ofwhat we perpetrated on the rest of the casino. If absolute powerdoes indeed corrupt absolutely, what power we possessed corruptedus to the fullest depths of our potential. In short, we were notthe people you thought we were. We were The Eye in The Sky. We wereSurveillance.