There will be some enhanced security measures coming to some Ohio casinos and racinos.
Knightscope is one of the leading developers of autonomous security robots and blue light emergency communication systems. The company inked a deal with PENN Entertainment to increase security at the operator’s properties.
The agreement is built on the foundation of a trial run. Knightschope deployed its K5 Autonomous Security Robots at PENN’s M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas.
The trial run was successful. Consequently, these robots will be at all of PENN’s 43 properties. The company has a sizable footprint in the Ohio casino industry, owning four properties (which it hopes will one day translate into operating an Ohio online casino when that industry is legalized).
Hollywood casinos and racinos in Ohio will soon be home to autonomous security robots
Knightscope’s autonomous security robots (ASRs) will soon be coming to PENN’s two Ohio casinos and the operator’s two racinos.
Therefore, it won’t be long before customers of Hollywood Casino Columbus, its sister property in Toledo, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway will be seeing them.
The goal is to bring advanced public safety technology to PENN’s 43 gaming and racing properties nationwide. The ASRs can greet guests in a friendly voice while also providing additional eyes and ears to the establishment’s security team.
They also feature a two-way communication system to enhance venue guest and worker safety.
Knightscope CEO William Santana Li said his company is happy to assist with PENN’s goal of providing safe and secure experiences for its customers.
“PENN Entertainment’s commitment to safety and the guest experience is extraordinary,” said Li in a press release. “We are overjoyed that we will be providing Knightscope technologies across its portfolio to protect the surge of guests arriving and departing from all of its properties daily.”
The process to install ASRs has already begun at several locations in different states. Some units have been deployed at Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs in Iowa and the Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois.
Knightscope claims ASRs are there to help with security, not to take away jobs
It feels like robots and automated systems are everywhere these days. As a result, there is an overarching fear that robots will take jobs away from people.
However, Knightscope claims their goal is not to take jobs away from security staff but to help them do their jobs better.
Li said that Knightscope’s ASRs are intended to deter negative behavior. He says that simply having the robots physically be there can stop a lot of nonsense from happening.
They will also give security officers and guards eyes, ears and a voice on the ground in multiple locations simultaneously.
The company is branching out by deploying its robots in places like hardware stores as retailers face pressure to reduce theft incidents.
Knightscope says the ASRs are to help the math problem the country is facing. There are about 2.5 million law enforcement officers and security guards running 24/7. Thus, only 600,000 humans can secure over 300 million Americans across 50 states at any given time.
Furthermore, these people are limited with the technological tools at their disposal. Knightscope says the ASRs will give those men and women in uniform new tools so they can do their jobs more effectively.