Nightclub Issues

Nightclubs, especially in Las Vegas, are a hot topic. The Nevada Gaming Control Board is clearly concerned about what happens within them and the apparent inability of their management to maintain control.

Having shopped a few nightclubs I've seen first hand some of the issues NGCB has raised. Drugs, prostitution, individuals who've had way too much to drink, internal theft, to name a few.

The biggest problem I see is that way too much money is changing hands. Employees of the nightclubs are making too much money and are continually trying to make more. It seems like everyone is corrupt and that anything is okay as long as you 'grease" someone for it. This practice allows illegal activity to flourish, and pushes the price up for a normal customer who just wants to sit down, have a few drinks, and listen to music. To do that you must now pay for "Bottle Service" Who invented that anyway!

It is sad that it is our customers are being hustled like this and it doesn't make Las Vegas look good either!

The only way to control these clubs is to control the hustling and "kickbacks." These clubs need managers who can't be corrupted and who will ensure their employees are on a short leash!

Your thoughts?

Thoughts from the ACFE Conference

Attending the ACFE Conference reminded me how important staying current with whats going on in other industries is. While we have our particular types of crime, so do they. Yet even though we experience crime differently, it still is pretty much the same when you look at it.

I know that's confusing but let me explain. Other industries suffer from identity theft through account frauds, online fraud, etc. We in gaming can suffer from identity theft and fraud through our players clubs and credit transactions, to name a few. Just variations on a theme!

Attending conferences such as the ACFE conference also reminds me that training is critical to my success. In today's fast moving world you have to quickly identify what scams are going on now and how to stop them immediately before your company loses a bundle.

Computer technology while making our jobs easier also makes the criminals easier; he/she can steal more, faster! This one reality alone has changed our jobs (surveillance, loss prevention, security) forever.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

ACFE 2009 Conference Las Vegas

I an attending the 2009 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Conference here in Las Vegas. Well over 2000 fraud fighters have gathered here to learn, network and talk about occupational fraud. You already know my feelings that fraud is a major threat to any business in any industry.

I've already learned a great deal, caught with some old friends and made new contacts.

I will share new and updated info in upcoming blogs. In the meantime please check out http://www.acfe.com/

Training Program in Mississippi

Just returned from a successful training presentation we did at the Horizon Casino in Vicksburg. A great group of surveillance directors, managers and agents showed up, as well as members of the Mississippi Gaming Board.

We spent a day going over proactive surveillance, internal theft and fraud, and current trends in player club thefts and frauds. A lot of of time was spend learning about threat analysis and countermeasures, a very worthwhile subject for us all.

To learn more about internal theft and fraud I recommend you read the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner's 2008 Report to the Nation located at www.acfe.com/resources/publications.asp. Click on Reports. Great information.

Training Schedule

Our training schedule has been updated through December. We've added training in Laughlin, Oregon and California. Please let me know what type of training you'd like to see. I am open to your input.

Today we leave for Vicksburg, Mississippi to make a training presentation. I am looking foward to seeing old friends.

Our newsletter should be posted today or by the latest tomorrow. You can sign up for this free paper at www.djbosspi.com

The Economy and Employee Theft

I just completed an article (Internal Theft in Gaming: A Reflection of the Economy for Security Management Magazine, September 2009) along with my fellow members of ASIS International's Gaming and Wagering Protection Council. The article's theme is that employee theft increases as the national economy goes down.

If you think about it, that is, unfortunately a true statement. Employees in the gaming industry, as well as other industries, are being laid off or their hours/days reduced. However, their monthly expense doesn't change. We must all continue to pay our mortgages, car payments, food bills etc.

In gaming, where a good portion of the employees depend on tips to augment their income, tips are way down because people aren't coming to Las Vegas as often right now or spending as much. While most employees are honest and hard working, there are always some who steal even in the best of times, and now because of the economy, those who feel they must steal to pay their bills.

This is important for gaming executives to note because in today's world, it is not the advantage player or cheat that will hurt you. It is the person already inside your operation; your employee.

Welcome to my new blog. I've decided to join the new world of blogging and networking after realizing that there is a whole world out there that I haven't reached out to because of my lack of computer savvy. So please bear with me as I get up to speed.

Today, I just wanted to let readers know that I'm out there. My name is Derk J. Boss. My wife Cheri and I own and operate DJ Boss and Associates, a Nevada licensed private investigations firm specializing in gaming surveillance evaluation and training, loss prevetion for gaming and retail operations and secret shopping.

My background and experience is in gaming surveillance and loss prevention. enough about that: please see my website at www.djbosspi.com if you would like further information.

In this blog, I will talk about current criminal and loss trends in the gaming and retail industries, and techniques to detect and prevent crime in hotel gaming resorts. I hope to open up communication with like-minded individuals and freely communicate information back and forth.

I do have a free monthly newsletter about these topics. Please sign up by replying to the blog, at my website or contact me at info@djbosspi.com

I am currently scheduling training classes in Vicksburg, Mississippi (July 8th) and in Oregon (August 4 - 6)