Las Vegas’ casinos step up security in wake of deadly attack

Wynn Resorts stated at the time that it was stepping up security in response to national and international terror threats, a move seen as excessive by rival operators in an industry that already has tight security throughout all premises, reports the Express.

Following Sunday’s incident, however, casinos are expected to follow Wynn Resorts’ lead and prepare for every worst case scenario through heightened security measures at all premises.

In a 2016 interview with KTNV, Steve Wynn told reporters that Las Vegas would be a soft target for a terror attack.

In June of last year, a nightclub in Orlando was the scene of another terrible shooting and 49 people lost their lives – leading to questions about safety in the entertainment industry. Wynn’s comments came in response to the attack.

“We have hardened the target at the Wynn,” Steve Wynn.
New security measures, including a large team of armed guards in plain clothes who patrol the building, with shift changes every two hours, and hidden metal detectors, to catch anyone who evades the standard security check, have been added at Wynn properties.

While Wynn took the threat seriously at the time, the Express reports that an industry insider claims the businessman’s fears were dismissed by his land-based casino-owning peers.

The casino industry is famously well-protected anyway, they reasoned, to prevent financially-motivated crime such as theft and fraud.

Most casino floors are covered by cameras and listening devices, and staff are trained to be alert to scams.

However, Sunday’s incident highlighted that while casino resorts themselves are well-protected, entertainment venues and hotels suffer from a gap in security protection.

Las Vegas is the second mass killing to occur at a casino in 2017.

In June of this year, a lone gunman entered the Resorts World Manila in the Philippines and fired at players, before setting fire to gaming tables and making off with gaming chips.

He later killed himself in a nearby hotel room, while 37 people died in the smoke and flames of the casino blaze.

With this tragedy in Las Vegas bringing the horror of a casino attack closer to home, owners and operators will need to take action to reassure players that they are safe to return to the poker tables and that they can attend concerts and shows in the entertainment hub without being afraid of another awful incident.

It can never be known whether heeding Steve Wynn’s warning would have prevented the tragic shooting, but lessons can certainly be learned about the need for stronger security measures at venues where large crowds gather.